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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 95, 16 July 1859, Page 3

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To tie Editor of the Hawlce's Bay Herald, Sir, — The question of harbour improvements having now been initiated and ventilated through your open column, I presume on the publication of the present, in continuation of my former letter. And in order that your readers may fully understand the vast importance of harbour improvements, I* will, in bringing the subject before them, confine myself as much as possible to facts, and be as concise as the nature of the subject will allow.'.. -, -„, .■■'. . .'■.' ,; ." ' • ■ .. On glancing at the chart of Hawke's Bay we find a sunken rock- Tight; in the track of ships 1 either entering or leaving the port or roadstead, with only- eight feet, water on the same, bearing from the .'Bluff K E. by N., distance 2£ miles. There is nothing whatever to point out to strangers this hidden danger. Passing this danger and following the chart; ,we reach the Rangitera Bank.' And since Capt. Druiy surveyed this portion- of the Bay, we $nd that another bank lias grown up, jruniung 1 at Jright angles with the Ran&itcra— ail

of which tend more or less to render the approach to our harbour more difficult and dangerous. To conceive the extent of the danger, fancy laistrong gale of wind fromS. E., to E. S. E., and a ship or ships, as the case may be, running for shelter or bound with cargo into our harbour, the probabilities are that, after they reach the roadstead, the i masters would let go the anchor' to the eastward of the harbour's mouth. — the usual place, but the most dangerous position of any m the Bay for a ship to be under such circumstances. What renders the position so dangerous is that nine cases out of ten the south-east gale becomes a calm suddenly ; and it would not be difficult to predict the fate of the crews of the unfortunate vessels lying there when such takes place. The most ignorant of nautical men would pronounce without hesitation that j death and destruction must inevitably follow; I and such must remain the strong probabilities of the loss of life and destruction of property, while the present system, of ignorance and apathy continues to be characteristic of all the movements connected with our harbour. In the first place, the harbour master's duties in other quarters are so multifarious that it is impossible for him to pay any attention to harbour improvements. Every one acquainted with his position knows that he has filled nearly all the of- | fices in the place while they have been honorary, and when salaries have been given with the office, they have generally paß9edout of his hands. But whatever the gentleman has been or has done in j this case, the truth must be told of him, — his j \rant of nautical knowledge pi'events his acting as harbour-master. Considering the advanced stage of Napier's increasing trade, fancy for a single moment, the pilot out, bringing in a steam ship, or a vessel of large tonnage, and a number of vessels required in the meantime to be moored ! What would be the issue ? Besides mooring vessels, his place is to see the buoys all secure, fit for transporting in or out as circumstances may require. But, Mr. Editor, I am fully aware that with, declamation I might, fill the whole of your paper, but it is quite another thing to offer a remedy for all our evils. To show the imperfection of a system will not cure the defects, (although Young said that to know ourselves sick, is half our cure.) The remedy for the evils we know, and the dangers we dread, I apprehend, are to be found in simple means and not expensive ones, — in the first place either a beacon buoy being placed on the snuken rock, will point out the position and warn strangera in coming into the bay, to give the danger a good berth. Secondly, a flagstaff, and a code of signals will be the means of curing the second danger, by enabling the pilot to guide ■vessels into a safe anchorage under the bank now running at right angles with the Rangitera, when the weather was such as to prevent his going oat in a small boat. To make this more clear, let us just suppose a case such as occurred on the 19th of June, when Capt. Blair arrived in the "Sea Serpent " At the time he arrived, it was just the top of the tide and a strong easterly swell, with t\i& sea breaking right across the entrance of the harbour ; had Capt. Blair been a stranger and out of his tides, as it frequently happens, and put his ship to the bar, in all human probability, theship would have been a wreck, and every soul would have perished. With a flagstaff and signals this could be prevented. How things so necessary as a flagstaff and signals lias been neglected so long seems quite an enigma, and more particularly so, if it bs true that the harbour master as early as 1857, received instructions from Dr. Featherstrm to erect a flagstaff and charge the expense to the Wellington Government. So much for the misrale of Wellington and Napier's apathy. Another thing which seems essential for the preservation of life and properly is a tidal light, to be used during the night. A light such as is used at New-haven, in the English .Channel, would answer all the purposes the pl»ce at the present time requires and the whole of tins can be accomplished for less than the Council squandered away over Milton Road. Without those improvements, and some of a more expensive, nature, we never be able to avail ourselves of the advantages of steam communication, and keep pace with the increasing wants of the district. When we reflect on the increasing trade of Napier, both coasting and foreign, and remember tluitoureoasting trade for the last four months has been 3(552 tons, and our foreign tonnage 42(i, we must be convinced that our harbour, if improved, can be made a fruitful source of revenue. But if, from inattention, ouv harbour is allowed to fill up, and destroy itself daily, what avails the visits of steamers when the}' are compelled to discharge outside ? Detention will be neeessavy, and vi*k and inconvenience of every description experienced by shipping. Higher freight, and higher rates of insurance must be paid for heavier risks, for, from want wo have seen in the case of the "Lord Wor^ley" and "White Swan," we are pretty certain they cannot render any credit to Napier by their visits. Hoping, Mr. Editor, these few vemnvks will call forth abler pens, that will give more graphic descriptions of the dangers of our port, and extol the advantages of reform. I remain, Sir, &c. &c, An Ojbsekvee. Napier, July 6, 1859.