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Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9093, 2 May 1890, Page 4

We heartily congratulate our Dunedin friends on the removal of the shoal which has so long obstructed their bar—a thing we mention with the respectful hesitation due to the cause of many bickerings and heart-burn-ings. There were some Dunedin spirits, a few, who held this shoal to be in a sense mythical; while others were inclined to the belief, which they were not slow to clothe in declamatory language, that the shoal was of no consequence. Both were wont to make common cause against any mortal rash enough to mention the existence of tho shoal. If the commander of a mail steamer did not like the look of the thing, he was a mariner without enterprise. If an admiral refused point blank to risk hia big ship over the obstruction, he was guilty of an injustice to Dunedin. If a newspaper or public speaker referred in the nonDunedin way to the shoal, he was animated by the unworthiesb spirit of local jealousy. Now that the shoal has been removed, we judge, from the jubilation occasioned by the announcement of “twenty feet at dead low water,” that the shoal was neither mythical nor of no consequence. Seriously, we heartily congratulate our southern friends upon its disappearance. Their port is undoubtedly improved thereby, and any improvement to any of our harbours is a legitimate cause for universal rejoicing. Wo do not suppose that the Admiralty regulations will be relaxed in consequence, but we are certain that the usefulness of tho port of Dunedin will be greatly enhanced.