THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1892.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8982, 13 September 1892, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1892.

The members of the Harbour Board meet to-day, and will have to decide on the question whether a beginning is to be made, in the matter of forming a permanent harbour with suitable berthage for vessels at places where the cargo can bo cheaply and expeditiously delivered, or whether for all time the miserable plan is to be continued of spending all the revenue in patching long wooden wharves that serve the purpose badly, and are a mere sink of money in the cost of repairs. We hope that each member will feel the responsibility of the position, and when he votes will assure himself that he is acting for the permanent benefit of our harbour, and that lie is guided by competent professional advice. The Board are indeed at " the parting of the ways," and at an important crisis. Hitherto they have for the most part adopted the wrong course. Once more, and — let eaoh man remember — for the last time they have a chance of going right. From to-day the fate of Auckland harbour is sealed. If the Board resolve to spend all the funds they have in hand in repairs to the eastern tee of Queen-street Wharf, and to defer to a more convenient season the beginning to work on what all acknowledge to be the right plan, then that convenient season will never come. The fate of the harbour will be settled for all time. The Board, if they decide on the policy of perpetual repairing of existing wooden structures, may as well dissolve, and give up the palatial building in which they meet entirely to the officials. It will save all concerned much trouble if they give an authority to the secretary to screw as much out of the shipping

as possible, and to spend all the princely revenue of the Board from rates and rents in tinkering the present rickety wharves. If the Board take the wrong course now, that will be the policy which they must follow, whether they like it or no, and it would be just as well to save themselves the trouble of meeting.

j At the present time the centre of the Queen-street Wharf wants renewing, and when the eastern tee is repaired at a cost of £10,000, and a crane put on to take heavy lifts, then it will be found that the centre of the wharf must be renewed to bear the heavy traffic. And when that is done, the Railway Wharf will have to be rebuilt. That, indeed, ought to be done now, for we believe it is not considered safe to send an engine and trucks on that wharf at present. And when that is clone the rest of the Queen-street Wharf will have to be renewed. And when that is completed, and when the Board have accumulated another £10,000 or £15,000, the western tee at the end of the wharf will have to be completely repaired. And when that is finished the eastern tee will have to be taken in hand again. And so the whole process will have to be repeated de capo. That will be the inevitable fate of the Board if they take a false step to-day. The receipts of the Board for 1890 were £64,352, the absolute revenue from rents and rates being about £33,000. The principal duty of the Board is to provide accommodation for shipping so that goods may be transferred from on board the vessels to the warehouses of the merchants with as little as possible of delay and expense. Also, of course, to provide that produce to be shipped shall be transferred as speedily and economically as possible. Besides that, it ought to be an object with the Board to make their works stable and permanent, so that there shall be no waste in repairs. Auckland harbour will exist when the present generation have passed away. We must not deal with it as if it were a temporary affair, requiring only temporary works. And yet, so far as the ordinary harbour work is concerned, that seems to have been the practice of the Board. We must make one exception. The Board have erected a splendid and substantia! building in which to carry on business which might all be done in two small rooms. The officials are accommodated like princes of the blood. Whatever may be the case with respect to the shipping, no expense has been spared to make the offices of the Board resplendent and imposing. Let any patriotic Aucklander go on to the wharf, and see the piles* worn away in the centre to pencil-points, and the teredo making havoc with the timber supports. Let him look at those frail and perishable structures threatening to drop into the tide with any extra weight. Let him consider the perpetual patch, patching that goes on, swallowing up the revenue of the Board. Let him consider how the Board have, leased their dredge, so that they can scarcely keep clean the berths that exist. And then, as he stands on a rotting wharf, let him turn his eyes to the majestic and handsome building erected for all time and regardless of cost, that looms over these few perishable structures. He will shed tears of vexation, and will say, " What manner of men are these who could pursue a policy of which this is the result?" The business of the Board, as we have remarked, could be transacted in a couple of rooms, and yet they have spent upon their palace a sum of about £15,000.

The public were entitled to demand that the Board, in adopting any course with regard to the wharves, shall be supported by the advice of an engineer. All the engineers who in former years have considered the subject, have been dead against such a policy as is now being pursued. They have pointed out what professional skill and foresight showed was the right course, and which, indeed, can be seen by any man of common sense. Now they are working without an engineer, and in defiance of all the engineers. Who is the profound engineering authority on the Board, whom the majority are content to follow ? We may say that since this subject was first stirred, we have heard but one opinion, and that is in condemnation of the course proposed to be taken by the Board. Our columns are open to all, but every letter we have received has condemned the Board. We hope that the members have perused those letters, and these which appear in our columns to-day, and will give careful consideration to the arguments brought forward before they come to a decision. Let them consult any engineer they like as to what is best to be done.