A PORT AT HEATHCOTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17882, 30 August 1918, Page 2

A PORT AT HEATHCOTE.

TO THU EDITOR.

Sir, —In youT issue of August 27 tho Mayor , is reported as stating, at a mooting 1 of tho council, that "ho had received a long letter from mo suggesting that the council should spend a very large sum of money on an objest which was not very clearly stated." This is incorrect, as you will see by perusing: a copy of tho said letter, which I enclose herewith I quote therefrom:—"There is a consensus of opinion that to admit vessels from Newcastle to discharge coa! at Heathcote, a -comparatively small expenditure will bo necessary. I havo already shown you, in a previous letter, that *ho savings to be obtained by delivering coal and timber via the Estuary will run into £60,000 or over, which at 5 per cent would pay for a loan of £1,200,000, whilst tho expendit aro might not reach £2.00,000. In other words, tho ratepayers would bo incurring no risk -by sanctioning tho loan.' Tho incorrect statement reported to have been made by tho Mayor is evidently unintentional, and ho will bo pleased at my calling his attention to it. Again, ho state 3 that " the council had no power for the purposo." I am sure he does not mean to imply that tho council has no power to borrow for a purposo which would assurodly the- progress of Canterbury _as well as of i Christchurch—if it is sanctioned by the ratepayers.—l am, etc., JOSHUA LITTLE.