OUR INNER HARBOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11558, 11 June 1900, Page 4

OUR INNER HARBOR.

Sir, — Where is the sand pump about which we heard so much some time ago ? The condition of the inner harbor iB scandalous, and a disgrace to all concerned. The barque Quathlamba, drawing 13 feet water ; was brought inside about a mont h ago and safely berthed at the breastwork. Since then we have had a heavy fresh, and now great difficulty is experienced in getting her out. The toy dredge, working away for the past few days, has not been able to dig a short channel for the barque to get through. The amateur engineers, who erected some work, it is supposed to turn the ourrent along the breastwork, after a couple of days Baw nothing of their great work. And what do we find ? From the mouth of the Tutaekuri, right down to the bridge, is one mass of mud flats, and from about half-way across the Petane bridge to Dalgety's new store, and baok to the eastern side of the bridge, we find another bank uncovered at low water. The depth along the breastwork has been lessened by about two feet. Soon we will hear that the toy ia working 16 hours a day to " cope with the difficulty," and also that she fs working her way up one end, and back to re-dredge the hole once made at the other ; and so on. If you stand by, and watch this toy working for eight hours, you might be fortunate enough to see it steam out in the bay hoicc to deposit its load. It has been argued that a sand pump is of no use in a tide, but a sand pump at the Spit could be utilised for a considerable time in working on dry land and making the harbor into such a state of perfection that there would be no more of the s.s. tendering the s.s. on account of the heavy sea at the breakwater. — I am, &c, Advance. June 10th, 1900.

PROPOSED NEW BYE-LAW. Sib, — It has come to my knowledge that the Napier Borough Council have drawn up a new bye-law whioh is to be brought forward at their next meeting. Briefly stated, it is to this effect : — That all property owners within 100 foet from a sewer will be compelled, if the bye-law is passed, to abolish all earth closets and convert into or eveot water closets. From inquiries made I learn that this will mean a cost of .£6 to .£8 per building, and a tax of £1 per year on the occupier of the same for the use of water for flushing. Ratepayers will remember that only a little while ago they were put to the expense of erecting ventilating shafts and the conversion of sinks, &c. If property owners are not alive to their own interests they will have this further burden put upon them. What with harbor rates, borough rates, and possible further inflictions in the near future, Napier will be a very nice place to live out of. — I am, &o , Ratepayer, June 9th, 1900.