AN EXPLANATION.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 965, 29 November 1882, Page 2

AN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In a local in your last issue you hinted at the probability of my retiring from the Harbour Board. I think it but just to the public (whose confidence I still hope I possess) to give a short explanation. Firstly, I consider the present Chairman’s views on Harbour matters thoroughly chimerical and of a purely impracticable nature. I believe that our means for Harbour improvements will be very limited for some time to come, after the way the wet blanket was thrown over a thoroughly practical scheme of Mr Sherwood which had cost him weeks of thought and a large expenditure of money for which the Adulamites had not the generosity to accord him even a vote of thanb^^ r I do nut consider that the borough would* - agree at present to a harbor improvement rate of one shilling, except it was a general thing, for we are now rated at 2s and shortly will require another 2s rate for water supply. Well, sir, as our means will be very limited for some time to come, I consider that whatever work we undertake should be of a nature that will give immediate benefit to the river, and it was decided by our late engineer that the work proposed by Mr Sherwood would do the greatest amount of good with our probable present means. The present chairman’s proposal to com- - mence a portion of the work (with £7OO debit balance) which will take years to complete and entail an expenditure of £50,000 before any real benefit will accrue to the harbour is purely impracticable. It . would be a fine thing if we had the means, or were likely to have, but what is the use of attempting to drive a camel through a needle’s eye. Lastly, I do not agree with the chairman’s proposal to appoint an Engineer at a salary equal to £IOOO a year to draw plans and specification of works which he has already completed. It would be money thrown away, especially when we have a £7OO debit balance. In conclusion, considering the difference of opinions existing, I thought it best to write out my resignation, but have been prevailed on not to forward it at present, trusting that the future may bring forth better fruit.—Yours &c., R. A. Adams. Patea, Nov. 25.