The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1895. OPUNAKE JETTY.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 11 January 1895, Page 2

The Opunake Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1895. OPUNAKE JETTY.

On the 20th November last the Government forwarded the report, and plans for the reconstruction of the jetty which had been prepared by Messrs Straucbon and Robinson, the former of whom strongly recommended the case for the financial assistance of the Government, as the destruction of the jetty was, in his opinion, solely attributable to the neglect of the Government engineer to make provision for the protectiou of the piles from the ravages of the teredo. In the letter advising the dispatch of report and plans it was stated :—“ The question of the Government giving assistance towards the repairs is under consideration.” The Wharf Company again communicated with the Government on the subject, and the following reply has been received: — Dept. Lands and Survey, Wellington, Dec. 3, 1894.

—Sib, —Referring to your ietter of 28th September. 1894, addressed to the Hon. the Minister of Lands, in which you ask what prospect there is of the Government giving assistance towards the repairs of the Opunake jetty, I have now the honour to inform you that a copy of the plan and report of Messrs Straucbon and Robinson has been forwarded to you. With reference the question of assistance from Government for the reconstruction of the wharf, I am directed to state that no contribution can be given until a_ local body takes control of the wharf. The question will then be considered whether Government will grant the loan. —I have, &c., . A. Barron, U.S. From this latter communication, it appears the Government does not intend to assist. We must admit that we have hold of the wrong end of the stick, even if we can claim to have the best of the argument, which is very unfortunate for us. There is no necessity to repeat that the Government, through the action of their engineer, are responsible for the collapse of the jetty, as everyone acquainted with the circumstances is already aware of it. We may point out, though, the absurdity of the position assumed by the Government. It is stated by them that no assistance can be given until a local body takes over the work? Why? Sir Harry Atkinson gave £7OO to the Company, The present party in power gave a i further sum of £SOO to the Company. They also requested tbc Company to obtain an engineer’s report on the /wreck and submit it to them, which was done. They then send their own surveyor and road engineer to inspect and report, and these point out Ihe great importance of the jetty to a large district which is thickly settled, and also the effect it would have on the settlement of the large area of native lands ; but to ail these arguments the Government turn a deaf ear. And this is the Government to whom the struggling settler is so dear, and whose welfare causes them so many sleepless nights. They make as much boast of placing a settler on the land as if they bad created a heavenly cherub, and yet when it comes to providing a few paltry pounds for assisting hundreds of struggling settlers, they descend to the mean and contemptible subterfuge, as evidenced by the foregoing correspondence. If it was not compatible with their policy to assist a Company, why did they not say so in a straightforward manner when appealed to, and not resort to all kinds of/dodgery until pressed into a corner ?

When the settlers subscribed the capital, in the first instance, it was not with any view to making a profit out of it by means of dividends, but indirectly by the facilitu • it would afford for cheap transit, 'jl mt it was fully answering expectations everyone acquainted with the regular shipping, which took place for several months before its collapse, will readily admit. The trade was steadily increasing, and shippers from Otakeho, Manaia, and Kaponga, and on the north to Pungarehu, were gradually drawing their supp ies through the port. Had it not collapsed, nearly every ton of goods for all this district would now be passing through it, and the Company would have been placed in a sound financial position. That the jetty is an absolute necessity to the people of the district, we do not think anyone will deny, and the question then arises—What is to be done *? We daresay if the settlers would sell themselves body and soul to the Government, assistance could be obtained, notwithstanding the final reply received, but from what wo know of them, they would scorn this kind of toadyism, and would ten times sooner put their hands in their pockets and find the amount required. It is not a favor wc have been damping from the Government, but a double right, Firstly, a reconstruc'ion of the work by the Government, because the share-

holders lost their money through the incorapeteucy of the Government engineer ; and secondly, that it is a work of such a colonial nature that no particular section of this community should be saddled with the cost. The Government, however, hold the money bags, and unless the settlers are prepared to descend to the lowest grovelling, assistance is not likely to be obtained, and it therefore rests with themselves to decide.

• It has been decided to hold meetings through the district and obtain an expression of opinion. We hope when the meetings are called that every one who can will attend, and do his utmost to put the question on a satisfactory footing. It is estimated to cost £IOOO to re-erect the jetty to its original length and add a landing stage 32 feet to it. This estimate provides for iron piles. The work could be done for about £IOO less if wood were used instead of iron, but we think it would be a mistake to trust to wood a second time, if iron can be put in its place, especially at such a small advance in the cost. Wc can rest perfectly satisfied that the teredo will not tackle the iron, and there is a doubt about wood should the casing get damaged in any way. With regular shipping coming into the port we would be bound in a short time to get the freights reduced, and Opunake would soon assume the position which nature intended it should occupy as the centre for the Waimate plains and Parihaka districts.