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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5045, 5 April 1878, Page 2

It lias been considered very desirable that advantage should be taken of Sir John Coode's visit to Napier to get him to inspect the Wairoa bar and report upon it. On the 3rd instant Mr M. R. Miller addressed a telegram on the subject to the Minister of Public Works to the following effect :— " The merchants and shippers of Napier, as well as the settlers at Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, would consider it a great boon were the Government to arrange with Sir John Coode to visit and report on the Wairoa bar while on his visit to Napier harbor. It is about four hours' sail from this port. Magnificent alluvial lands are almost neglected there. The shifting nature of the river bar deters progress, and no doubt with the aid of scientific advice the channel could be confined at very little cost. The Hon. Mr Sheehan would give you further information." A reply was received from Mr John ICnowles, the Under-Secretary in the Public Works Department, as follows : — " Sir John Coode's stay in New Zealand is limited to five weeks. Should there be time he will be requested to visit the Wairoa river, provided the Council will undertake to pay a proportion of his expenses, which will be but trifling. The Council have been asked." Colonel Whitmore was also telegraphed to, and lie replied that they might depend on his doing his best in the matter. We observe that the Wairoa County Council are requiring to know whether the Government would bear any of the expense incidental to Sir John Coode's report. We should think, as the expense the Wairoa County would have to bear would be but trifling, that they would not let that point stand in the way, but that they will at once accede to the proposal of the Government.