The Star. MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1831. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 181, 5 December 1881, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1831. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

The two candidates for Parliamentary honors, are both agreed that the Harbor Works should go on ; Major Atkinson thinks that the money derived ' from land sales will suffice for the purpose ; Mr. Hutchison thinks not, but recommends, not that the work shall be stopped, but that it shall be taken over by Parliament, and continued as a Colonial work. Meanwhile, the Harbor Board proceeds on its way, in its usual profunctory style. Having appointed an engineer, who is not an engineer, either in the eyes of the profession or of the public, at its last meeting, it determined to appoint a consulting engineer at a salary o£ £300 a-year. Members of fcne Boar<3 on Thursday were given to understand that Mr. Thompson was prepared to devote his whole time as chief engineer to the Board for £500 a-year, and that he would have preferred to undertake the post of chief, rather than of consulting engineer visiting the works and reporting four times annually. Mr. Yorke pointed out that as Mr. Thompson was only expected to devote a week or ten days to each quarterly inspection of the works, by the payment of an extra £200 a-year, an extra ten, or perhaps nearly eleven months of Mr. Thompson's services would be secured for tbat sum. Members of the Board know very well, that if a trained engineer were appointed to the works, the services of one of their present staff could be dispensed with. But the late foreman, now resident engineer, has declared that he must be supreme, or will resign his situation. The majority of the Board are anxious to retain Mr. Rhind's services, so they agreed to pay heavily for an occasional inspection, rather than risk the loss of Mr. Bihind. Mr. Yorke moved, and Mr. Bayly seconded a proposal that Mr. Thompson should be appointed chief engineer, at a salary of £500 a-year. The proposal was not supported by any of the others on division. It will be for the ratepayers to consider, whether tbe better or the worse counsel prevailed As a general rule, it is certainly unwise to retain a servant who usurps the functions Oi tbe masker.- iubm-e eventa wil) show whether this case will prove an exception to the rule or not. Meantime, it is certain tbat money is being spent very rapidly ; tbat a large proportion of this money is being spent, not on the breakwater, but on the quarrying, sea walls, permanent way, &c., charges which may have been snly aXlowect for among the incidentals, but which, judging by accounts recently presented to the Board, seem likely to absorb ten times the amount usually allowed for such expenses. The economical expenditure of harbor funds is of much importance to this district. However unpopular the work, or those who have the administration of the funds, it is essential that the public should secure full value for their money. In order to enable them, as possible ratepayers, to form a reliable opinion, and, if necessary, protest against any waste or misappropriation of moneys, it will be incumbent upun us to keep the ratepayers informed as to the procedure of the Board. The theme is distasteful to most, because it relates to a. scheme which may drain our purses without conferring any direct benefit.