New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4256, 10 November 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1874.

The proposed sale of the foreshore by the Provincial Government of Wellington has certainly not been justified by anything written in its favor. On the contrary, we think the case has been weakened by indiscreet advocacy. We are by no means ignorant of the title to the foreshore in Wellington harbor ; but what we contend for is, that every square foot of reclaimable tidal land in the harbor belongs of right to the municipality. Will the advocates of the sale of the foreshore tell the inhabitants of Wellington that they have no claim whatever to the improvable land in the harbor 1 Is their interest in it simply confined to an extension of the taxable area, with the contingent expenditure in street maintenance and drainage 1 If so, the people have by far tho-worst of the bargain. The Provincial Government realise, in the first instance, and form the streets, which is only an insignificant part of the outlay ; the purchase money is spent on purposes alien to the city, and the Provincial Executive acquire ephemeral popularity in the outlying districts, at a time when political capital is so essential to the maintenance of their position. The inhabitants of Wellington city may be content with such a disposition of the public estate, but we warn the country districts against the policy of seconding the reckless dissipation of the Provincial Executive. The harbor belongs to the entire province. Without it, Wellington province would occupy a very shady position as compared with other New Zealand provinces. It is the outlet for the trade of a very wide district, and when railway communication has been opened up, it will be much more largely used than it it is at present. ■ But unless shipping facilities are increased at the port, the charges on goods, outward and inward, will be very heavy, amounting infact to a serious tax upon producers and consumers. This, it will be evident, is a question directly affecting country settlers. They are quite as much interested as the towns-people can be, and it is for them to say whether, for the sake of stopping a gap in the provincial appropriations, and purchasing a short-lived popularityfor the Superintendental party, it is worth while to sacrifice the only estate which might be turned to public use, by raising sufficient capital wherewith to construct docks and wharves. As it is, the trade of the city is hampered and impeded 'through insufficient wharf accommodation; and yet, the very writers who advocate the sale of the tidal lands by the Provincial Government, likewise propose that the Colony shall come to the rescue of Wellington, and spend thousands of pounds in wharf construction. Nay more, these writers are perpetually charging the General Government with jobbery and corrupt practices, while advocating the perpetration of the most bare-faced job that has ever been proposed by any New Zealand “land “ring.” We want a reform of the Municipal Council truly; but a reform of the Opposition Press is quite as essential to the well-being of the city. Now, we say it without fear of contradiction, that, should the foreshore between the present reclaimed block and Pipitea Point be sold, as it is proposed to sell it in one lot, it will not realise onefourth of its real value, and that a pack of hungry speculators will feast upon the public spoil. Moreover, we further aver, that should this land be sold there is no chance whatever, within the present generation, of Wellington possessing dock and wharf accommodation at all commensurate with the reasonable prospective increase of its trade. Whence it will follow, that instead of this city being a great centre for the distribution of merchandise, and the port of shipment of all the territory south of Taupo, to say nothing whatever of Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland, it will remain a simple port-of-call and convenient coaling station in the inter-colonial trade, with the distinction of being the political capital, as long as it will suit the larger commercial centres to permit it to retain that position. The railways will divert the interior trade to other ports, and our people will have the supreme satisfaction of knowing that although the commercial prosperity of Wellington has been permanently arrested, at least the last Superintendent and his Executive found the ways and means of going out of office with a loud flourish. Whether the end justifies the means is another matter. That is for this most apathetic and clique-ridden province to determine. At all events, we have done our duty. Wo have warned the public that it is proposed to sell what, if properly applied, would construct a tidal or wet dock, capacious enough for the next twenty years for all shipping! frequenting the port, with ample wharf accommodation, together with one or two dry docks, without which only vessels on special charter will touch hero.’ Nor can we hope to establish shipbuilding on any considerable scale without docks. Foundries and engineer shops would necessarily follow; but these, it is likely, are not wanted. We only want, it would seem, to clothe tho Provincial Government with transient glory, and are willing to stop the progress of the port to attain that end. So be it, Tho tidal land will bo sold, tho money will bo spent outside the city, for no useful purpose in all likelihood, and tho city will have an increased taxable area; which means a very large ‘

annual expenditure for the drainage and repair of the new streets. Thus, not onlyare the citizens asked to give away their patrimony, but they are invited to toss up their hats because this gift of theirs involves a heavy annual outlay in maintaining now streets, kindly assigned to them by the Superintendent.