The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1894. NEW PLYMOUTH BREAKWATER.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 13, 14 August 1894, Page 2

The Opunake Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1894. NEW PLYMOUTH BREAKWATER.

A eumouk was circulated about a week back that considerable damage was done to the breakwater by the heavy weather. From enquiries we find that such is the case, and that at the outer end a considerable number of blocks were washed out from underneath, doing considerable damage also to the upper ones. The damage is estimated by a competent authority to be about £BOO or £IOOO. We fully expected to see some mention of the matter at the Harbour Board meeting, but apparently the Board knows nothing of the occurrence. We drew attention recently to the fact that, notwithstanding the great increase in the value of property within the harbour district, there was no decrease in the rate per £ struck, which is a gross injustice to ratepayers, and wc then pointed out the probability of the Board endeavouring to encroach on revenue which was intended for payment of interest and sinking fund for purposes of construction. As far as the district for twenty miles cast and west of Opunake is concerned, it is a matter of indifference whether the breakwater exists at all or not, as the port is not required by them, and the cost of goods coming that way exceeds by far the cost of any other route. Whilst, however, the ratepayers here never use the port, they have to contribute a large share of the interest upon the cost of construction. There is no greater injustice inflicted on any body of ratepayers in the colony than this. Waitara people consider themselves hardly dealt with in having to pay the rate while they have a port of their own, but in their case, when their port is not accessible, New Plymouth is the next cheapest route. In our case, if we had not a port of our own, we could not then use New Plymouth, as the cost of transit is prohibitive, and Patca has to be looked to as our outlet. Whilst the whole district has claims on the Government for relief, this district, to Manaia on one side and Stoney Eiver on the other, has a special claipi, as the ratepayers in that area (who number over 600) are forced to pay for a work that is of no benefit whatever tjo them. When the rate was first struck it should have been a differential one, as even with the area which is benefited by the harbour, those lands nearest to the port, and consequently which derive the most benefit from it, should, as a matter of justice, contribute most to the cost. The Board at present, we understand, is in a bad way financially, and what we wish to point out is that when they ascertain what damage has been done they have no right to reconstruct such works out of rate?. This is one reason why it is

highly desirable that the district should be divided into ridings, so that the country districts may return men whose interests are not bound up in the township of New Plymouth, and who will see that the interests of the country ratepayers are fully considered. There is a large outlay there at present, which very probably, with better management, could be considerably reduced. Tne wages, we understand, amount to £l7O a month, and the rope used on the wharf costs £3O per month. Considering the volume of trade,| these amounts appear to us abnormally high, and lead us to the conclfsion that there is “something rotten in the state of Denmark.”