THE HARBOUR BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8988, 28 February 1888, Page 3

THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Sir, —I read your leader of the 23rd instant with considerable interest, and agree with you. that never was there a time when a man of nerve and ability was so much required at the head of the Auckland Harbour Board, and that for a few years past the administration of the Board has simply been one of shift. Yet the majority of the members seem to be quite satisfied with the present state of affairs, if their vote for chairman on the 21st is a fair test, which it ought to be. The question arises, Who is responsible for the present position, and the great indebtedness of the Harbour Board ? The Auckland Press certainly is to a very large extent. It urged the Board to borrow a loan for a large dock, another loan to buy a big dredge, and to build more wharves at a cost to the public roughly speaking of some £14,000 yearly in interest. Now the question arises, Is the big dock wanted for the next twenty years ? The big dredge was never wanted ; she was got to prepare a berth for the big steamers that were to ply here regularly and take away our frozen meat, etc. Unfortunately for Auckland that idea has collapsed, and I am not aware that the big dredge was ever employed at the Bailway Wharf to make a berth for the big steamers. I think the berth was dredged by the Priestman's dredge before No. 121 arrived. Extra wharf accommodation— that wanted? I answer distinctly "No." Without Hobson-street Wharf, which has never been used, nor likely to be in a hurry, and the new wharf now being built for MrFirth, we had ample wharf accommodation for some years to come—in fact (more is the pity) our wharves are not half occupied. All that was wanted was to deepen some of the outside berths for the large steamers frequenting the port, and the Priestman's dredge could have done all that. That the Board has been drifting without any oheck for some years past, goes without question, but it cannot be allowed to drift much longer; the day of reckoning is at hand. The people of Auckland must make up their minds to have increased taxation. Interest on loans must be paid. (By-the-by, it was not the Board's fault that the whole of the loan £200,000, authorised by the Loan Act of 1886, was not raised, the Bank of New Zealand, who acted as agents in London for raising the loan, advised strongly not to attempt to float more than half the authorised amount, viz., £100,000.) Our wooden wharves must be maintained, and to obtain the necessary revenue, wharfage charges must be increased. When that takes place, the people of Auckland will then insist on the utmost economythe big dredge will be laid up, and salaries reduced all round.— am, &c., February 27, 1888. D, H. McKenzie.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your leader in Thursday's paper on the reckless and extravagant expenditure of the Harbour Board, has fully drawn the attention of the public to that important body. Ip the report of salaries paid, several sums did not appear that will considerably increase its sum total if fairly placed. There is the Calliope Dock Engineer £600 a-year, clerk of works £300 a-year, and a consulting engineer also to be paid. They have five clerks of works taken from their staff of day labourers, one at Rangitoto beacon superintending' painting, one on the railway wnarf, one on the lower western tee, one on a wharf in the upper harbour. If they have given these men the dignity of overseers,' in common fairness they must pay them in proportion to their own magnificent salaries. I suppose the

sun is too hot for the inner staff to come out and supervise, and these outside staff of workers are inured to exposure. The suggestion of the engineer, not adopted by the Board, to drive piles and place lights on them about Hobson-street mole, seems to me to be wanted. Several vessels have grounded, lying very awkwardly on the uneven bottom made by the dredge, and on Thursday night the dredge was in collision with the timber portion of the wharf, with the result that her stem and rails, and other fixings were considerably damaged. This and other repairs will amount to considerably over a thousand pounds. Now the public want to know how long will this waste of money last ?— am, &e., Duke Humphrey.