THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9180, 9 October 1888, Page 6

THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

RESISTANCE TO THE RATE. Or/R Waitara correspondent, writing on the subject of the rate for the New Plymouth harbour works being due, says :— There is a very strong feeling among the ratepayers all over the district that toe rate must be opposed, and every possible attempt made to get rid of it even if it should be necessary to resist the officers 01 the law in their attempts to assist the Harbour Board.and the reasoning for this opposition is sound no doubt. The rate was imposed upon them by Parliament without their consent being asked, and in the face of strenuous opposition, and appeals against the injustice of imposing a* rate "on one harbour for the building and supporting of another port within 12 miles of them,_ to be a rival to their trade and a positive injury to the Waitara district, inasmuch as the heavy taxation for this so-called harbour ab New Plymouth has had the effect of depreciating property here, and also driving erood settlers away, and frightening others from taking up land within the rating district; and what is there to show for the large outlay on this breakwater? Nothing, but "a sand reclamation," with a half tide, rocks in the middle, as Mr. Thomas Bayley expressed it at the meeting on October 4, and the works are, unfortunately, for the ratepayers too true. What is termed the harbour at New Plymouth is nothing now but a vast area of sand reclamation, with the Breakwater standing in the middle as a monument of folly for the New Plymouthites to gaze at. It must, indeed, be very bad when the Harbourmaster finds it necessary to publish a caution to mariners in the New Zealand Gazette warning them of the sandbank that is forming so rapidly (at the rate of 60 or 70 feet a month). Vessels drawing 12 feet can now only go into the harbour at high water, " where before the breakwater was built 30 or 40 feet of water existed," and the sand, it must be borne in mind, is so rapidly increasing that at its present rate of accuiiiillation it is only a matter of months, and the so-called harbour will be blocked up. Prison labour, at the expense of the colony, is now being mployed to build a rubble groin from the shore to the first Sugar Loaf, in the vain hope that it would check the sand. Bub this gap they are now filling up with stone was all deep water when the breakwater was started; it is now dry sand ab high water, and what good pitching a lot of stones on it would do, no one out the infatuated New Piyinouthites can see. It is only a deliberate waste of public money, feeding the sea on the bard-earned money of struggling settlers. It is a thousand pities the Government cantiot be induced to step in and put a stop to this deliberate waste of public money. Far better revert at once to the eld boating service " which will have to be done very soon," than fritter money away in trying to perform a hopeless task. A numeroualy-signed requisition was presented to the Chairman of the Town Board, asking him co call a public meeting to consider the best mean 3 to be adopted to resist payment of the New Plymouth Harbour Board rate. This meeting was called for and held on Thursday night, when a very large and representative gathering was present. The first resolution was proposed by Mr. S. Joll, viz., "This meeting is of opinion that the enforcing of the harbour rate by the New Plymouth Harbour Board is having the effect of retarding the settlement of this provincial district, and ruining many of the settlers who are endeavouring to obtain a livelihood therein." Seconded by Mr. James Bayley, and carried unanimously. Mr. John Elliot proposed the second resolution, viz., "This meeting, feeling convinced that all reasonable means have been adopted by way of deputations and petitions against the imposition of a rate tor harbour purposes at New Plymouth, and levied by the New Plymouth Harbour Board under authority of the Parliament of New Zealand, without the consent of the ratepayers being first obtained, and believing such rate to be both unconstitutional and a legalised injustice, as well as oppressive, and in some cases ruinous, hereby pledge ourselves to combine together for the purpose of resisting any further payment of the rate, and to support each one who may be proceeded against by the New Plymouth Harbour Board, in protecting their property from being plundered and confiscated, by ejecting any bailiff or other officer who may attempt to distrain the property of any person who may agree thereto." He reviewed the whole career of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, and actions of members and representatives in Parliament, and severely dealing with the Premier (Sir Harry Atkinsen), who told the electors of Egmont, in his election address, that the settlers would have to get relief from the rate, as they could not pay it. What was the result of this promise? A Bill was introduced into the last Parliament for the ostensible purpose of relieving the ratepayers, but the real provisions of the Bill were to increase those burdens, by raising the port dues, and, if necessary, clap on a further rate. This Bill was of a piece with the rest of the proceedings of the New Plymouth harbour from its commencement. Sir Harry had only been deoeiving the people, for instead of relieving them from the rato, as he promised, he proposed to further burden them with extra taxation. He read from Hansard that during the debate on the Harbour Bill Mr. Fish asked the Premier if he intended to increase the taxation, and the Premier replied that he did, and if the House would only give him that power it was all he wanted. How nice to come from a man who deluded the settlers into the belief that he was going to relieve them of the rate, and who actually telegraphed to Mr. Samuel from Wellington that the rate would, not be levied. That telegram was read at a public meeting in New Plymouth, and everyone was in ecstasies over it. He (Mr. Elliott) had pointed out what the result would be years ago, at a public meeting in New Plymouth, and he had been hooted for doing so. He felt it was very hard to be driven to break the law, but it was absolutely necessary, to protect themselves from being made shades and paupers, to set aside the law, and bid defiance to the Harbour Board and their bailiffs. He appealed to them to stand shoulder to shoulder, and fight to the last against this unjust tax. Mr. Nicholls seconded the resolution, and spoke in equally as strong terms as Mr. Elliott, and expressed his determination to fight to the last. Mr. Thomas Bayley also spoke to the motion, and drew attention to the way in which the New Plymouth people chartered special trains and brought the harbour employes, who were not ratepayers, to Waitara for the purpose of swamping the meeting; and aeked, where were these men now ? Scattered all over the colony, and laughing at the poor struggling settler, and where were their leaders ? Hid away, afraid now to show out and face hhe ratepayers, bub gradually sneaking out of bhe New Plymouth Harbour Board, and leaving the affairs, after they had got them in a mess, to other men. He (Mr. Bayley) had paid £140 last year, and was called on to pay £160 now. That sorb of imposition lie could not stand. It meant ruin to him. In speaking of Mr. Blackebb's evidence before the committee of Parliament, when the £60,000 Loan Bill was before the House, Mr. Blacketb was asked if there was any likelihood of the harbour silting up. He replied, " Oh dear no, not the slightest." That was 18 months ago. Bub Mr. Blackebb visited the harbour shortly afterwards, and lie came to the conclusion that it was a sand reclamation with a half-tide rock in the middle of it.' . He (Mr. Bayley) urged the electors to stand firm in resisting this iniquitous tax. Mr. Wise proposed as an amendment, "That a petition be signed by the ratepayers calling upon the members of the New Plymouth Harbour Board to resign, and hand over bhe harbour and its obligations to the Government." Mr. Fantham seconded this. ' On the Chairman putting the amendment ib was losb, only Messrs. Wise and Fantham voting for it. The original resolution was bhen put and carried, with only two dissentients. The Chairman announced thab an agreement, embodying bhe resolution, had Deon prepared for signature, and persons desiring to join in the resistance would come t forward and sign ib. Most of the ratei- payers present bhen went forward and ;' signed bhe agreement. " c After a vote of thanks to the chair the meeting broke up.

The agreement lay at the Town Board office for signature, and I am informed that the list of names has been considerably enlarged since last night. By the general tone of the people round the district, it seems certain that no rate will be paid, but that a determined and hard struggle will be made to protect themselves and their property. Warm work is expected when the first bailiff shows up, and he will have to be very strongly backed up indeed if he hopes to have any success in distraining on the property.