NAPIER HARBOUR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2956, 30 November 1900, Page 3

NAPIER HARBOUR.

The “Hawkes Bay Herald” advocates the raising of a further loan for the completion of the Napier harbour works. The “ inner harbour ” or original river port, where the smaller vessels loaid and discharge, is reported to be in danger of being closed through decay of the timber piers which enclose it, and the Board has no funds to restore them. '■ The ratepayers,” says the “ Herald,” “ will have to be'asked to sanction a new loan, and while about it why not ask for authority for sufficient to finish the. breakwater as well as improve the inner harbour? The Spit harbour can never be made to accommodate large vessels. The breakwater mole, with a, railway there, is the only way possible to provide wharfage for our ocean-going steamers, where cargo can be landed and shipped without lighterage. At present the breakwater is practically nothing but a convenience to passengers by our coastal fleets. It is an absolute certainty that no loan would ever have been sanctioned if such a consummation had been contemplated. The ratepayers go o,n paying

lighterage while they are heavily rated to provide interest on loans. With an enclosed harbour for our ocean-going liners not only would the cost of lighterage be saved, but the Board would receive a large revenue for the berthage of those steamers. When the work was stopped some years ao-o, it was because there then appeared ground for fearing that in the contest with nature the Board would be defeated. There,' was a general concensus of opinion that the Board should spend the money available in strengthening the work already done, and then wait and watch results. Sufficient time has now elapsed to demonstrate the permanency of the work as strengthened. Not the slightest damage has been done since it- was completed, though it has been repeatedly assaulted by heavy seas, and Mr Napier Bell has expressed the opinion that it could now be regarded as permanent. The continuation work will not be so expensive, as it will not be exposed to the direct attacks of the sea, which will run along it after the curve is reached. The root of the mole is complete, and the mole itself can be of light construction, as, sheltered by the breakwater, it will not be called upon to resist heavy seas. The Board has no heavy plant to buy, for it has everything necessary. A comparatively small sum would complete the work, alnd give us an enclosed harbour as large in area as Lyttelton, and with depth to float the largest steamers.” A loan should be got to complete the outer and restore and improve the inner harbour, and the increased revenue would prevent any increase of rate. But if the ratepayers refuse a further loan, “ they will continue to get the present minimum of benefit, and the Board the minimum of revenue, from the breakwater, patching the Spit will, go on, and the money will have to be found out of revenue, and that will mean a large addition to the harbour rate.”