NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8530, 2 April 1891, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

THE PREMIER'S VIEWS.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BOARD. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.} Wellington, Wednesday. In an interview with the Hon. Mr. Ballance this afternoon I referred to his visit to Taranaki, and the celebration of the Jubilee. The Premier described tho progress being made in that district as more remarkable than in any part of Now Zealand when considered in the light of the rate of progress in the past. He informed me that a committee would bo set up early in tho next session to inquire into matters connected with the New Plymouth Harbour Board. Speaking of the harbour itself and the statements published in connection with his address in Now Plymouth, the Premier said" there had been very great misconception as to the purport of his speech. He had never hinted at the necessity of any reconstructive work. He never suggested that there should be any reconstruction whatever. " Tho actual question is (I use the Premier's own words) one of dredging. I have had great experience of harbours and harbour works throughout the colony, and have studied this subject very diligently. What has happened at New Plymouth harbour is really this : At one,time the sand, whioh now forms a bar in front ot the entrance, used to circulate very freely, leaving a fair way for vessels of moderate draft. That circulation has ceased, and the sand now forms a bank across, and therefore an impediment to vessels getting in there. What 1 really said was that if a passage through the sand were dredged (which could be done for a comparatively small expenditure of money) that passage could afterwards be kept open by means of a small dredge, which it would cost very little to maintain and keep at work. As to the question of the Taranaki harbour, I believe that it can be made in this way a good harbour for vessels trading along the coast. I have a good opinion of this as a harbour, and the expenditure I spoke of for tho maintenance of the dredge would fall very lightly on the resources of the harbour itself, which, if made available, would have a revenue. There was, as I have already said, no question suggested by mo, or to me, for reconstructive works. If the work already done could be utilised by such a small expenditure as I have indicated, it would be a good thing for the whole of the West Coast, and even to the colony. "There is a matter in connection with this subject which I may state for general information. It may be remembered that the late Government endeavoured to provide for their interest by impounding the revenue from endowments. They consequently stopped the payment of proceeds. It has been found upon inquiry that there was no legal power in the Government to stop the payment of these moneys to the people to whom they were by law made payable. The present Government have taken the opinion of the law officers on this subject. They have also referred the matter to the Auditor-General. The result is that we have been obliged to pay over this money. It amounts to a sum between four thousand and five thousand pounds. It has enabled the district to pay the November interest; therefore, as far as the November interest is concerned they are all right. What their position may be as regards the May interest becoming due I cannot say."