South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2956, 15 September 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1882.

The Harbor Board have,,.before them alternative schemes-'for providing adequate accommodation and facilities for loading and discharging small craft. It is no very great length of time since we drew attention to the delay and expense to which small craft were subjected in loading and discharging at this port. It is certainly plain that a jetty, so constructed as to allow of their coming direct alongside, and goods being transferred direct from the carts into their holds, or vice versa , and affording a convenient terminus for the surf boats, would not only soon pay itself, bnt would, greatly facilitate trade, to the benefit of the port. Of the. plans submitted by the Engineer, tic latter, in addition to being cheaper, appears in every way preferable. No. 1 represents a pile jetty of 480 feet, parallel , to, the boat ways, from the front of the landing service. No. 2 shows a jetty at right angles from the wharf, 150 feet, with access for carts. This appears eminently suitable for the purpose, and the Engineer proposes, in addition, to construct a wall from the end of the jetty in a straight line to the sem* lying north of the Breakwater, and reclaim the enclosed land. In every way therefore the scheme promises well, and we hope to see the work put in hand without needless delay.

i The Board’s determination to endeavor to act the port right in the estimation of people at Home, will be heartily approved by every one. We are only too painfully conscious that in shipping circles our reputation has fallen low indeed; nor are we igno-

rant of the .fact, shameful as it appears, that our morning contemporary has been one of the chief instruments of the downfall of that reputation. It may have been, as His Worship the Mayor said yesterday at the Board’s meeting, “ for political purposes we are not prepared to say whether this was the case or not, but this we do know, that the “ Herald ” has adopted every possible expedient for ruining the port in the estimation of shippers and shipmasters. The fatal consequences are now sufficiently apparent; We hope our contemporary is satisfied with the result of bis labors. The circular which the Board proposes to send home to Lloyd’s, arid for general circulation in Great Britain should be a comprehensive document, and wo doubt not that if industriously and judiciously circulated, it will bare the effect of restoring somewhat of the lost confidence of shippers.