THE HARBOUR QUESTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2415, 31 May 1876, Page 2

THE HARBOUR QUESTION.

lb the Editor of the TARANAKI Hkrali>.'

Sir,— ln your leading article of the 2!) th instant, you comment pretty freely upon my conduct re " The Harbour Question," generally condemning my action in the matter, and complaining bitterly that I did not call the meeting sooner, saying — " We think that there w:is ample time to summous a public meeting before now, since the question has been before the public for some twelve months at least, and not left it till the last moment, aud until the Harbour Board and the General Government had come to terms on the matter." Now it must be obvious to the most supei lieia! observer that this remark of yours is as absurd as it is unjust. When, sir, 1 would ask were the Harbour Board made acquainted with the Government's proposals ? NoL until the Hon. Mr. Bowen's interview with tho Board lost month. This \v:is the first aud only definite offer made ; and where, sir, was the utility of calling a public meeting to discuss what might be matters of mere surmise aud uncertainty? Some of the public would have very justly condemned such an absurdity as calling them together to consider and discuss what possibly miitht be, without being able "to tell them anything definite.

So soon, however, as I was aware what these proposals were ; so soon as there was any** thing definite to discuss, what time, Bir, did I lose in taking action in the matter ? More, I at once urged upon the Board the propriety' of delaying coming to auy decision, that the question might be ventilated and afterward* discussed. Failing to induce them to do this, 1 was called away to attend a Bitting of tho Supreme Court at Wanganui. Upon my return I wrote to the Superintendent, asking him to convene n public meeting; he declined, and immediately upou receipt of his answer I called a meeting myself, merely allowing sufficient timo for the public to become aware of my having done so, Where, then, wag there any groat aud unnecessary delay, of which you complain? The remainiug charges against me in your nrticio could be as easily disposed of as this one, but I do not care to prolong this discus* siou. — 1 am, Sec, Arthur Standish. May 2!), 187 G.

A Complicated Customs Case.—' iv the AvKtralasiaii, thus comments upon a complicated Customs oase^-" Baffle imported 15 tons of telegraph wire, which oameiu free, Snaflle imported 20 tons fencing wire — a similar nrticlo— and paid duty upon it. Baffle bought Radio's 15 tons, and sold it to Snafflo at a profit in tho ordinary course of trade. Snaflie sold his 33 tous for use on a station iv llit'criua, and ns it was leaving Victoria applied for, and obtained, from the Customs departmeut the drawback on 35 tons. To this .day he does not know that the IB tons on which ho obtained drawback uever paid any duty, and thus the State has absolutely paid away what it never received."