Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6814, 19 September 1883, Page 4

We very cordially congratulate oiir local governing authorities on what we may regard as the happy conclusion of the negotiations regarding the proposed har-bour-city improvements. The action of the City Council in fir.ally ratifying the arrangements made between the Harbour Board, the Freezing Company, and the Council, may be accepted as ensuring the completion of the splendid city improve- : menfc which the final removal of the stump of Fort Britomart will effect; for we have not the least doubt that, the genuine public spirit which has manifested itself on every hand throughout the whole of these negotiations will be exhibited to the end, and that iu respect of the remaining negotiations as to the removal of St. Paul's, a conciliatory reasonableness will, continue to prevail, which is sure to remoye every ; obstacle. Those who recollect the cantankerous and obstructive disposition that ruled the relations between the Harbour Board and City Council some years ago, when such things aa the metalling of a bit of dividing road was sufficient to keep these two authorities at loggerheads for months, must bless ourstars that we have fallen on happier days. Then was it the burthen of the public plaint that we were cursed with too many governments, and the sulks and personal grudges of : members presented the unedifying picture of the public's interest in the harbour,

fighting with the public's interest in the city, and the public groaning between them. Whether it is that better men have come to the front, or Auckland baa. outgrown the pettishflesa and puerilities of its younger years, certain it is that the proceedings leading up to the happy consummation of to-day hare been very creditable both to Harbour Board and, City Council. Nor should the co-opera- i tion of the Freezing Company be overlooked, for though no doubt not ignoring the interests of shareholders, the directors have spiritedly stepped out of their way in undertaking obligations which by a private .company could bo taken up, but which a pnbiicadminiatrative body may be precluded from incurring in the terms of its charter. Where there is a will there is a way, and the maimer in which these three bodies have waived difficulties standing in the way of co-operation, and have met one another in the common effort to effect this important city improvement, is deserving of recognition at the hands of the public.

All this may be regarded aa an augury of good; progress begets progress, and it is significant that this spirit of improvement has elicited newer and greater projects of improvement, and. that the suggestion Of these has met with favour. The proposal of a branch line of railway by the beach route to Penrose may not have immediate effect,, for unfortunately Ministers and Parliament intervene ; but its favourable reception yesterday by the I Harbour Board, and its recommendation by that body, with promise of *o*oper.ar tion,i constitute a favourable start, which is half the victory. The project is one of great importance, and indeed sooner or later will be a necessity imposed by an increase of traffic on the railways running north and south ; and if the work is ever to be done, now is the time to make provision. Preliminary to that, and more immediately pressing, is the question of the filling in of the intake at Mechanics' Bay, Of this we have not heard latterly so much as we ought. It is to be hoped that we shall not learn of any unreason-* able difficulties crossing the path of this, much-needed work, and that the claims of the public health, not less than of public convenience, will incite the Harbour Board to include the filling up of this, intake among the works claiming their earliest and most urgent attention.