South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1883.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3129, 13 April 1883, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1883.

The “ North Otago Times,” of yesterday, has the following :

The “ Timaru Herald ” thinks that the business of the port of Timaru is conducted so wretchedly that the “ only way to make the Harbor Board fully realise that there is something wrong is to place the whole facts before owners and agents, and to warn shipmasters from coming to the port of Timaru.’’ It looks as though a harbormaster for the port of Timaru would have to be made to order—the dimensions, material, and qualifications to be supplied by the different masters of vessels visiting the port.

The deduction drawn by our highly respectable contemporary of Oamaru,is a perfectly natural and justifiable one, which can neither surprise nor offend anybody. But all well-wishers of the port will agree with us in reprobating the conduct of our local contemporary the “Herald,” which has all along done its utmost to mar the prospects of the port, to strangle its development, and to discourage our public men from doing anything at all. It is bard to say which is the more pro-voking—-the “ Herald’s ” affectation of universal knowledge, or its preternatural wisdom after every event. There never occurred a disaster, an accident, or a confusion, in connection

with the shipping here, that did not furnish the morning paper with 'an occasion for remarking, after all was over, in the most solemn strain, “ Ah ! you see, I told you so.” This is excellent in a grandmother, quite what we look for from the dear old lady, but in a journal of such pretentious exclusiveness as the Herald ”it seems rather out of harmony. That is the view the general reader adopts, of such a style as the “ Herald’s.” But it is not only the general reader’s view that is to be considered. It is to be remembered that the utterances of a newspaper seriously affect the trade of the place and lessen or enhance the confidence in it of outside people, and the criticism of the Press, a weapon to be vigorously used whenever there is a wrong crying for redress, should be sparingly and judiciously used on a public body who are evidently bent on doing their best for the interests of the place, or on public servants who are zealous in the discharge of their duties. We have no hesitation in saying that the Harbor Board is a thoroughly representative body of conscientious and intelligent men, and that though they may occasionally err (the editorial staff or the proprietory of the “ Herald ” not being'xepresented there), their work, in the main, is well carried out, and the interests of the port watched over carefully. “ It’s an ill bird that fouls its own nest,” and when we see our contemporary’s ill-natured snarling provokes comment, which the Oamaru journalist most justly makes, we cannot forbear entering a protest against conduct so reprehensible.

Kitchen and Son and McLeod Brothers Company (Limited) is about the most healthy looking joint stock business ever initiated in New Zealand and one which really offers a splendid field for an investor. There is no fluctuation in the demand for soap and candles. The financial arrangements as now proposed are on a sound and cautious basis. The capital is to be £IOO,OOO of which one-half will be called up within two years. The two businesses in Wellington and Dunedin are on a very extensive scale,' and their returns, as certified, are much greater than people generally would suppose, £150,000 per annum being mentioned as the value of their joint productions. Most of the materials employed are obtained in the colony. A large circulation of money must follow the payment of £IOO,OOO per annum in wages and material, and the enterprise meets a never-ceasing want. The directory is a strong one, and in Mr Kitchen, managing director, the Company have a chief executive officer whose experience and ability are a sufficient guarantee that all that can be done to ensure success will'be done. Shares are rapidly being applied for in the new company, and we observe from the advertisement that the share list closes in the Timaru district on April 25th.