DECIMAL COINAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 194, 28 August 1901, Page 2

DECIMAL COINAGE.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, —In nn aitiulo lately published by you, it-was suggested that, in the event of Australia and New Zealand adopting a decimal Rvstem of coinage the peony piece should remain under the name of the "cest," from which the decimal sya'em should start. Now, in my opioioo, thit would be a very great mistake, as it would render most of the existing coins, if not all of them, exceedingly awkward to deal with, an J would a'po cause endless confusion in converting accounts and existing engagements from the present system of £e.d. to the new system. The decimal system would, of course, ba a very great boon to all persons engaged in business, and would also save much bruin worry to the rising gereratioos and their t achers in the schools, and a change in thit direction I consider most desirable but ic should be nude in such a mann r as to cause lh < least possible friction and confusion or dis turbance of exis ing arrangements. In order to effect this it sems to me that our standard £1 or sovereign, or a gold piece of exactly eq'ial value, should remain. This could be quite easily provided for by making tbe p tseiK, 2piece, or fliri», the 100 eecr, staodird (cill it a dollar if you must, but I should prefer tbe present i ami of florin). If th : s were done, tbe on'y I coins at present current that would b < inconvenient and would the>efoe l*e dropped out of use would be the h*lfcrown, the 3d-j'ieci, and the psnny, whilst the present fid, 1 •, 2s, 10s, and 20s piecflH could all quit ) (oovetiien ly remain in circulation until a n-w coinage -replaced them. The new coins I would "-ugg.st, would be as below : - 2| c nt and 5 cent, bronze or similar metal; 10 can's, 25 c< nts, o |fl »in (present 6d), frilv^r; 50 cents lor j flo' in (pre-e t Is). mlvc- ; 100 1 kent, or florin (p . sent 2s), iivoi'; 500 cent?, or 5 florins (p<e*ent halfsovereign), gold; 1000 cent, or 10 ] florins (present sovereign), gold. In ' conversing the old stanlard £1 iatu 1 the new standard florins, the change would be made in the manner by multiplying by 10, and the shillings by dividing by 2, the odd penot beir g j the only tioublo, bu". that being a small i matter could easily be arranged. The new hoiks of account wou'd require ' only two column', on? for the florin or ' do'lar and the other for the cents, and , I venture to say, aftir the first six ! months' experience of the new systnm, the most conservative b inker or mer- 1 chant would be w. 11 pleased with the < chaoge, as they would bi saved an i immense amount of labour and time. ! If any of your readers can suggest a better system th»n thd abovg outlined, j I hope he will let us havtj the benefit of it. —I am, etQ., A. O. FOOKES.

published, and which will daubtl*ss be of interest to many of your readers.— I am, etc., BBBT. A. Hiomtt. Waitara, 27th August;, 1901.

" It was advised by the lata Bir John Ooode that for t.be purpose of obtaining deeper water at the entrance, two moles should be constructed, one od the north and another on tbe south flank of the river. Ihfse moles were to ex teed seaward some 1500 feet. , Assuming that this work was constructed in one operation, the benefit derived at the entrance would be considerable as tbere would be at or about that distance from the shore sufficient littoral current, together with heavier wave force, due to what would then be the steeper slope of.the bar, to maintain some eight or ten feet of depth at low water. Bqt in my opinion extending the present entrance in a piecemeal Banner will effect no good whatever, and if the suggested extension of the northern wall far in advanoe of the •outhern were attempteJ, I feel satisfied that during fine weather the south oeach would extend as far as the north wall and merge into the channel, aod r.hat on the occurrence of h- avy weather from the soueti-w.st, the rip of the s i along the northern wall would, in one act, drive tbe point of the beach referred to in f o the estu iry and practically block the outlet! It is, I conclude, the very worst suggestion which could be brought forward. A* the works referred to, namely, the outside walls are for tbe present, owing to the cost, out of tbe question, sonpe simpler and cheaper method must be found to keep the bar clear, and this I judge can be accomplished by tbe construction of a flushing weir, immediately at ©e about the bridge above the wharf. This weir would be built 8) as to drop at high water and hold back the rivir water to tbe extent of some 5,000,000 cubic feet, and by liberating thin quantity at or about the period oi low water bring about what weuld hi equivalent to a seties of Uj,ht freshes, which would sluice or soour accumulations, and would act in exactly the same manner as dittoing basins, which have been oonstrocted in many of the harbours of Europe for the ptirpcse of flushing out accumulations. Tbe matter is exceedingly simple, and the most practical way at small oost of improving the conditions."