OAMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 41

OAMARU HARBOUR BOARD.

THE LOAN PROPOSALS. (From Otjb Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, October 14. The- first statutory meeting of ratepayers of tho Oamaru Harbour Board in connection with the board's piopcsal to borrow -J50,000 was held in the Opera Hou^e on Tuesday evening, the attendance being large and the meeting throughout orderly, although many had anticipated that The discussion would be an animateJ one. The chair was taken by Mr J. M. Brown, who stated ac the outset that questions would be permitted but no discufeion. Mr R. Milligan, the chairman of the boar<f. sat forth the matter in a speech that lasted for an hour and a-half. Ke quoted expert opinions to show that the present area available for swinging the larger -vessels in tho Home trade that aio now visiting the port was insufficient, and that at least 30 acres were required, and that a depth of 20ft in the enlarged area wai demanded net. only by the decp-^ea f,t'.amer=, but al'O by those now engaged in tho coastal and intercolonial trad^. He- contended that the present dredge was too 6ir>all and too old for the rcpuiremcnts of the port, or to clear out the larger area deemed necessary, and in thk connection the statements of experts and of other members of the beard were quoted, including tho^o of Mr Rose, who now advocated patching up the Progress dredge. The rate required was small, bul the interests of the district demanded a progressive policy. Consolidation of ail the board's loans might still be possible in 1913, and the present proposals would not affect consolidation. A motion favourable to the board*? policy was carried by the meeting, after Air Rose had spoken, briefly pointing out that in the newspaper correspondence of the past month he had met -all the arguments put forward that evening.

— Speak your mind if you must, but mind h^ w ' jou speak.