THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR LOAN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7115, 13 July 1886, Page 2

THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR LOAN.

Tiie following is the Lyttdton Tunes' Wellington correspondents account of the last debate on the Harbour Loan :—: — This interrupted debate [the N.P. Harbcur Loan Bill] camo up as the first order of tho day, disappointing those who thought the whole affair had been shelved for another session at least. Messrs Bryce, Rolleston, Peacoclr, anl Montgomery spoke reasonably, Mr. Montgomery being rather for the Bill than against it. One point of his speech has a special interest for Canterbury people. Mr. Bryce had mado some reflections on Canterbury (unintentionally, as he afterwards explained), and in a aonse which I was unable, from various causes, to hoar. Mr. Montgomery addressed himself to the task o£ keeping bright the reputation oi! our district. It was true, he said, that Canterbury had a large necessity for charitable aid, but ho would invite hon members to understand what Canterbury had done with the smallest expanditure of public money of any district in New Zealand. Their railways paid more interest than the district in question on the West Coast of the North Island, the respective interests being 12 and 10 per cent and £3 5?, This £3 ss, he would remind the House, was the rate on the Hnrunui-Bluff line, which includod Otago. It might be urged that Canterbury, standing alone, would show an even figure of percentage, but he would not go into that matter at all, preferring for bis purpose to take Canterbury and Otago as on the same footing. Mr. Bryce had mentioned . tho great expenditure in old times in Canterbury, from tho land fund, but that fund came from the pockets of the people, and a large proportion of it was spent in public works — roads, bridges, schools, and tho rest. Other districts, he might say, had got these things made by borrowed money. The cause of the state of things requiring charitable aid was nol the demoralisation, consequent on a lavish expenditure. It was to be found in the cessation o£ settlement, and the reserve from sale of the Crown lands remaining unsold. . The high price of land put an end to the progress of settlement. It stopped settlement entirely. Added to this was -the millstone left on the necks of the people by tho latter land speculations. The moneys the}' had paid for these speculations bad, to the extent of half a million, gone to swell the sum/ Then Canterbury did not get her fair share of the borrowed money benefits dispensed elewhere from Wellington. Through the operation of these causes, a certain large amount of indigence bad been caused, as waa always tho case when the settlement of the lands ceased. Such was Mr. Montgomery's defence. Mr. Samuel got up and mado a very good case for the Bill, daring which he said what was, it is unnecessary to say, very severe on Colonel Trimble and Mr. Hursthouse, who had opposed the measure to such purpose last week. Sir John Coode, it was true, had estimated the cost of the Taranaki breakwater at £750,000, but bis plan was only intended for a future and a very remote one. The £60,000 asked for in tho bill would, according to the estimate of competent men, extend the breakwater sufficiently, to satisfy the requirements of the district for years to come. The Colonel had been wilfully bilnd to this evidence given before the Local Bills Cotnmilteee. The harbour was already a harbour of refuge. The increases of revenue and freight in the last five months, due to the extension o£ tho breakwater, supplied a baßis oE estimate very different from the old state of things. The extension of the bieakwater and of the railway to that work had made all the difference, which it was unfair to ignore. The Waitara was a good little harbour, but owing to the enormous quantity of its sand and the weakness of its current it was unable to be improved. The Gairlooh and smaller vessels than the Clansman (about which an interesting report had been given to Colonel Trimbe) had been kept three dayp on a late occasion. The saving effected by the breakwater on the freight of the butter exported would amount to £9000 a year, moro than three times the amount required to pay the interest on the lonns nuvr asked for. The rating value of the district was an increasing quality, because tho value and productive power of the district were improving every day, The land revenue was considerably more than Colonel Trimble had allowed, and.tho endowments were certain to bring in large revenues before long. These things his friend, Colonel Trimble, he charged with deliberately ignoring. Mr. Hursthouse he would aot answer any further than by declaring that his love was not for the people of the district, but for a wealthy relative who possessed 50,000 acres, who ought for the good of the country, l to be subjected, before long to heavy rates on this property of bis. The statistics and the vehemence of Mr. Samuel prevailed over his enemiesj and the House, thiowing out the amendment of Colonel Trimble, read the Bill a second time by a largo majority.

Our Waitara correspondent informs us that the entire Somnus is going to Auckland, Feve taking its place in the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts, On the 28th Sept., 1844, the Customs duties were abolished in New Zealand, and a rate upon real property substituted. This was all reversed again on the Bth April, 1845 ; but during that time several raado their fortunes. The Royal Humane Sosiety of Australasia has awarded to Constable Ryan a silver - medal, the only ono issued this year. The deed for which this high testimonial was granted is thus briefly sot forth :—": — " William Henry Ryan, aged 33 years, a police constable, saved the life of William S. Pardy, at the ford crossing the river Waitotoroa, between Parihaka and Pungarohu, on tho 19th June, 1885, The river was in a state of flood. Pardy was clinging to a rock ia the river, having beei thrown from his horse. Ryan plunged in to his assistance, and was carried away by the force of tho current, and was only caved himself by catching hold o£ a bough of a tree, to which ho clung, and by tho assistnnco of which ho rescued Pardy aa he floated past with tho flood — Awarded a silver medal." The Government should have ere this rewarded Constable Ryaa with some substantial testimony of his brave coniuct oa this occasion. The Society usually issues bronze medals ; a silver medal only being awarded iv cases where more than ordinary bravery and risk of life have been displayed. " Charles," said a young lady to her lover, " there is nothing imerestiug in tho paper to-day, is there, dear ?" " No, lovo, but I hope there will, ono day, when we both shall be interested." Tho lady blushed, and said, of course, "For shame, Charles !" It is at times difficult to find any use for Bawdust, but the following is a way of deriving advantage from it : — Water is added, up to a degrco of: plasticity ; tho mixture of ono to three parts o£ resinoua sawdust and one part of washed kaolin is ground aud pressed by means o£ a press. The lurups thu3 obtained are dried in the air, then placod in a stove, and, lastly, vitrified in the ovens under white-red temperature. These bbckß can be sawD, planed, and polished in the shape of incombustible bricks, which are used, hi America for building bouses,