LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIX, Issue 3652, 9 February 1881, Page 2

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

4. . [continued prom yesterday.] Mr. Carrington having concluded his address, proceeded to lay the stone — a block about thirty inches by twenty inches — which had been hollowdd for the purpose of receiving a copper box, containing the following documents, as well as some few coins of ' the realm :— Wells' History of Taranaki ; Taranaki Almanac, ISSI ; three photographs by Messrs. Williamson and Co. of 1 lie Sugar Loaves at Moturoa ; copies of the Tahanaki Herald, The Budget, The Taranaki, News, 2he Haivem and Normanhy Star, The Patea County Mail ; a workman's pay ticket; and a document prepared by Mr. Halso (which we publish elsewhere"). There were also placed under tbc bos a ji i >lographic portrait of the late Mr. Chilman. on the back of which was written his name, and an intimation that he was the first Chairman of the Harbour Board; and a portrait of Mr. P. A. Carrington. The box having been placed in the cavity, the stone was lowered into its place and fixed. Over the box was placed a piece of Oamaru stone, on which the following inscription had been cut by Mr. Levett :—: — THIS STO3STE WAS LAID BY F. A. CARRINGTON, Esq., FEBRUARY rrn, ISSI. Mr. Carrington then tapped the stone with the trowel and said — " I now declare this stone to be well and properly laid ; and may the harbour works prosper." Mr. H, Hooker called foi* three cheers, which was loudly responded to by those on the spot, and taken up by the hundreds of persons who were looking on at "a distance ; the band in the meantime playing " God save the Queen." Tlie scene was a most impressive one, and will be long remembered by all those who took part in the ceremony. Mr. 11. HOOKER then proposed three cheers for Mr. Carrington, and the same for Mr. Kees, the Harbour Engineer, which were, heartily responded to, after which Mr. Carrington and the ladies who accompanied him were escorted back to their carriage, and driven to town, a guard of honor selected from the Mounted Rifles accompanying the party. The sports then commenced, and were kept up with a considerable amount of spirit until near seveu o'clock. A report of them will be found elsewhere. There were a couple of incidents connected with the laying the foundation stone of the harbour, which, before concluding this part of our account of the day's demonstration, we think it well to record. Amongst those present was an old gentleman who witnessed the ceremony in England on the 12th August, 1812, of depositing the first stone on the Shoal Itock, at Plymouth. There were several also present who had been connected with the Plymouth Breakwater at home in one capacity or another ; and the commencement of the present work brought reminiscences of the past strongly back to their minds. A lady was present — -Mrs. J. C. Honeyriekl — a daughter of Mr. Richard Barrett, who was agent for the first vessel that visited Taranaki. To her the scene must have been a striking contrast to that of forty years ago, when luxuriant vegetation covered the land, even close to the sea shore. We have omitted to state that the breakwater was gayly decorated with buuting, and that over four thousand persons must have been present at the ceremony. TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION AND P^RO TECHNICAL DISPLAY. In \\\c evening, at about 8 o'clock, a procession was formed in fronn of tho Town Hall, headed by Captain Davidson ; and, thirty torches having been distributed and lighted, the procession started, marching round by the Masonic Hotel and up Devonstreet, as far the Bank of New Zealand. Here it halted, and the band struck up a lively air. The procession wheeled round, marched down Devon-street again, passing Broughamstreet, and proceeded up Devon-street East. On its way, blue lights were burnt, giving a very pretty effect to the march. On reaching the Red House, the procession turned up Gover-street, and marched on to Poverty Flat, where it broke up. This part of the demonstration was somewhat novel to the people here, and was a very excellent introduction to that which was to follow. Whilst the procession by torchlight was marching through the town, a large bonfire was ignited on Poverty Flat, where over three thousand persons had assembled to witness the fireworks. The bonfire was a large one, and illuminated the place far and wide. A platform had been erected in the centre of the block, and everything fixed in readiness, so that when Captain Davidson, Mr. Cottier, Mr. Adams, Mr. Nicoll, and a few others arrived there, they were at once prepared to commence the pyrotechnic display. The fireworks were a very excellent selection, consisting of Catherine wheels, double triangles, Roman candles, Chinese tees, freeritan wheels, jack in the boxes, tourbillions, Bengal lights, maroons, rockets with coloured stars, and brilliants, as well as portfires, jackjurapcrs, squibs, crackers, blue and purple fires, &c. The discharging of fireworks occupied fully an hour, and formed a fitting and amusing termination to the demonstration, every one returning home evidently pleased with their day's amusement. We are glad to be able to state that onty one accident occurred during the day, and that happened whilst the fireworks were being let off. Tommy Williams had a maroon to let off, and although cautioned that it would explode, and should be thrown away immediately on being lighted, he held it too long to the flame of a candle in a carriage lamp, where it burst, smashing the glass, and doing Williams considerable injury. His hand had a fearful gash made in it ; whilst his face was scorched and hair burnt. His injuries were immediately attended to, and we learn that he is progressing favourably. FOUNDATION OF NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR. The following is a copy of the document which was engrossed and placed in the box on laying the first stone of the harbour :—: — The people of Taranaki being about to lay '. the first stone of a harbour for ships on their '. sea coast, desire to place beneath that stone a record of tho circumstances which have led to the commencement of that work. This portion of the island lying around Egmont • having been denuded of its inhabitants by « the powerful tribes of Waikato, was taken •

possession of by the agents of a company established at Plymouth, in England, for | colonising New Zealand in 18i0, and in the following year ships arrived on this coast under the auspices of that Company, with intending British settlers of the yeomanry and labouring classes from the Western Counties of England. From the commencement of the settlement onward, the want of a haven for ships was here severely felt, vessels anchoring in the roadstead of New Plymouth being exposed to the full force o£ the winds blowing from north-east to south-west, and the loading and unloading of vessels being effected with great difficulty, danger, and expense. The want oE financial success by the Companies formed for the purpose of polonising the country added to the difficulties which the early settler) endured in connection with the natives who were released by their captors, rendered it impossible for marine works to be undertaken for a period of thirty years. After the lapse oE that time the Colony began to amass wealth by the development of its resources, and by the extension of its trade ; and the natives having then been partiallj' subjugated, British capitalists became willing to advance money for the purposa of immigration and public works. In the year 18(>G the Provincial Government of Taranaki set aside certain lands in New Plymouth, and at the Sugarloaves, and the sea beach, rich in ironsand, <is an endowment for the New Plymouth Harbour. In the same year the Engineers Balfour and Doyne were employed at an expense of £2000 to survey the roadstead of New Plymouth and design harbours in it. In 1874, the Colbnial Parliament passed an Act endowing any Harbour Board that might, be constituted under an Ordinance of the Taranaki Provincial Council with one fourth of the revenue arising from the Sale Of >Ynstc Lands within the Province of Taranaki. In 1875. the Provincial Council passed an Ordinance constituting a Harbour Board, and endowing it with the harbour reserves, one-fourth of the land revenue, with the power to impose taxes on all the lands in the Province in the occupation of European settlers, and to raise a loan on the secoritp of its endowments to the extent of £350,000. ' 1 ■ By tho BMnancial Arrangements Act of 1876, the endowment of the Board, with onefourth of the land fund, was ratified, the ratification being rendered necessary by the abolition of .^Provincial Institutions about that time. In 1877, the Harbour Board was reconstituted by the New Plymouth Harbour Board Ordinance Amendment Act, which reduced its borrowing powers to the sum of £200,000. The consolidation of the loans of harbours in the Harbour Act. IS7B, led to another reconstruction of the Board, but did not affect its powers or privileges. Early in 1880. the Board succeeded in obtaining a loan of £200,000, in London, through the agency of the Bank of New Zealand, at £95, bearing interest at G per cent. In 187G a plan oE a rubble mole at the Sugar Loaves was designed by Messrs. Carruthers and Blackctt, Government Engineers. In May, 1878, Sir John Coode, an eminent marine engineer of London, being on a professional visit to the Australian Colonies, at the request of the Board made a brief survey of the l'oadstead and prepared plans of a work almost identical with those of Messrs. Garruthers and Blacketfc. The Board and its Engineer preferring a solid concrete wall to a rubble mound, the Engineer was in October, 1879, sent to England to confer with Sir John Coode upon tho subject. The result of that conference was a design by Sir John Coode oE a concrete mole. vVhile in England the Engineer gave directions for the construction of heavy plant for the construction of the work. The names of the first Board constituted under tho Ordinance of 1875, were Mr. F. A. Carrington (Chairman and Treasurer), Majors Atkinson Brown, Messrs. G. Curtis, T. Kelly, A. Standish, W. N. Syrne, and H. Weston ; Mr. J. B. Lawson was Secretary. The names of the present Board are — T. King (Chairman), Mr. B. Wells .(Treasurer), Messrs. W. Bewley, F. A. Carrington, J. Dingle, A. Standish, R. Thompson, and Vavasour. The Engineer is Mr. J. R. Rees : the Solicitor Mr. W. Halse ; and the Secretary Mr. Robert George Bauchope. We now proceed to execute this great work with the sum of £140,000 to our credit after executing preliminary works and purchasing plant, and with the powers of rating and endowments above mentioned, trusting that under the guidance and protection of the Great Architect oE the Universe we, or our imme- , diate successors, may be able to bring the work to a successful termination, so that in the years to come the inhabitants of this fair district may have facilities for the exchange of commodities not only with the peoples of the islands of these seas, but also with the remotest nations of the earth. The commemorative stone will be laid on February 7, 18SI, by Frederic Alonzo Carrington, Esq., tho selector of this spot for a British Settlement, and the then Chief Surveyor of New Plymouth and its vicinity.