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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9039, 27 April 1888, Page 4

The shoaling up of the harbour that is being constructed at New Plymouth is to be added to the other ills looming up in connection with that rather unfortunate enterprise ; and the ominous report of the Engineer-in-Chief of the colony, Mr. Blackett, which is summarised in another column, seems like the preparation for one of two courses,— either the abandonment of the attempt, or the works being taken over by the colony. It is not that the winds and waves on that exposed coast are too much for the strength of masonry, but the far more insidu- ! ous danger is manifesting itself i of the shelter provided by the breakI water being slowly but steadily tilled up by the shifting sand and shingle. Viewed in the most favourable aspect, : this contingency will require very considerably extended operations, both in raising protecting works and in dredging out the accumulations of sand, works involving large expenditure ; and whence the funds for this are to be derived, must become a very serious question to the people of that portion of Taranaki. It _is known that the special taxation already imposed has become extremely burthensome, and that with the exception of the residents in the town of New Plymouth and its immediate surroundings, the whole district is in a kind of semi-revolt. That increased taxation, if necessitated by unexpect-edly-increased expenditure, would be intolerable goes without saying. If the position is such as it appears to present itself to the Engineer-in-Chief, there is little doubt that an effort will be made to have the whole business rolled over on the Government, and the history of the Taranaki breakwater will add another

to the many illustrations of the folly of .allowing districts to undertake extensive works on the plea that the taxation which these will necessitate must be borne by themselves. Of the importance of a breakwater, or oven a harbour of refuge in the Taranaki district, there can be no doubt, and probably the time will come, though it may not be near, when the duty of creating such a harbour of refuge will be recognised by the State. But this in no way qualities the impropriety of giving legislative power to small districts to undertake public works, for the completion of which they are manifestly not competent, and which after a long struggle with insufficient means, in, which money is merely wasted, must ultimately be rolled over as an additional burthen on the colony, or entirely abandoned.