HARBOR BOARD ENDOWMENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 754, 13 August 1886, Page 19

HARBOR BOARD ENDOWMENTS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, —The very sensible and practical letter on harbor endowments in your paper of last week, written by Mr J. C. Crawford, is well worthy the attention of the Harbor Board. It plainly points out where the Government have lands that they can give for endowments to the Board, without interfering with sites required by the Government for building or railway purposes, but which after a time must be invaluable to the Harbor Board. I don’t see but that the Government may grant to the Harbour Board the whole of the land round the bay from high water mark, with power to reclaim at their leisure, provided reserves are set apart for the use and conveniance of the citizens and others who may settle round the harbor, such as public bathing places, boat harbors, and sheds, and landings for pleasure parties, and for Imperial naval purposes, &c. These endowments may not seem of much immediate value, but Wellington will become ten times as large as it is now, and thenfevery bit of land round the shores of the harbor will be valuable, especially that between here and Evans Bay and between here and Pekone, as reclamation will be easy and cheap. Sir, in or about 1848 I measured about fifty acres of the water bordering on Lambton-quay, and calculated the cost of reclamation, which I sent to Sir George Grey, then Governor. I tola him in a letter referring to the reclamation, that he would, besides making such a grand improvement to the city, make a clear profit of 100 per cent., and he had the good sense to see and to begin the work at once. But to show how I had mistaken the real value of the land when reclaimed, I need only to refer you to the Government auction sale, where they made more profit on two acres than I had calculated to be made on the whole. I can now foresee the time when the harbor will be dotted roud with water-side villages, for places of pleasure and utility, such as fishing and manufacturing, and all the pleasant sites with picturesque villas; therefore it is impossible to calculate what maybe the value of the foreshore as endowments to the Harbor Board. I would therefore impress upon them to take Mr Crawford’s advice into their serious consideration, and get all they can while the opportunity lasts. Delays are always dangerous.— I am, &c., John Pmmmer. ’ ’ _ £LU£

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL g IR —The point started by Mr Crawford ought to be well considered by the Harbor Board and by the citizens of Wellington. If the Harbor Board wants endowments it should find out what it is desirable to apply for, and ask Government for the Bame. It is hardly to be expected that Government should itself make the search. By carrying a railway to Newtown and

Kilbirnie, the necessity for a large station on the Te Aro shore would be obviated, and even the necessity for a Te Aro wharf would be done away with. Te Aro and South Wellington might then be perfectly well served from me present vrharves. A new wharf at Pipitea Point will soon be a desideratum, and would cause the oroposed reclamation there to acquire great value. The proposed reclamation between the Patent Slip and the Kilbirnie Hotel would provide ample accommodation for shipbuilders and workshops which cannot be found elsewhere, would save Oriental Bay from desecration, and can be brought within a few minutes of the centre of the city by rail. Instead of trying for endowments up country, which are difficult to find, and distasteful to the settlers in the districts chosen, the Harbor Board should see what is to be found immediately on the spot. The shipbuilders and workers in iron should look for permanent sites in which they are never likely to be disturbed, with easy communication by water and, as soon as possible, by rail.—l am, &c., Don Diego.