DREDGING THE HARBOUR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9207, 8 October 1891, Page 2

DREDGING THE HARBOUR.

DISCUSSION ON GOVERNMENT VOTE. At the Harbour Board meeting on Wednesday, Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., stated that no doubt the members of the Board were aware that the Government had placed £3000 on the Supplementary Estimates for the purpose of dredging the New Plymouth Harbour. He understood that the Government had not officially intimated the fact to the Board, but. peihaps, the Government had left it to him to do so. The Government had made enquiries about obtaining a suitable dredge to do the work, and had obtained the Oamaru one. This dredge was capable of carrying 200 tons, and could get through 1000 tons in a day. The terms on which the dredge was got were £100 a month if taken for twelve months. Sho was to be insured for £12,000, and it was necessary to scrape and paint her, which work would be carried out at Lyttelton. The other day ho wired to the Government to know when the work was to be commenced, as there was some doubt as to under which Department — the Public Works or Marine— the money was to be spent. In reply he got tho telegram (produced and read), which slated that it had not been decided yet which Department was to carry out the work, as the Hon J. McKenzie, Minister of Lands, was at present away from Wellington. As Mr McKenzie was away on a tour, which would last some time, Mr Smith considered that the Government should be stirred up in the matter in order that the work could bo begun as soon as possible, so that full advantage could be taken of the summer weather. Mr Bewlby pointed out that there was pratically nothing before tho Board, as the Government had given them no official notification on the subject. Mr Smith remarked that apparently his services wore under-valued by the Board. Mr King, the chairman, explained that Mr Smith had notified him by telegram about tho £3000 being placed on the estimates, and on September 24 he wrote to the Government thanking them for placing thejmoney on the Supplementary Estimates, of which act ho bad been informed by telegram by Mr Smith, and through notices in the Press, and he also wrote with reference to the iron girders whi'jh were lying at the harbor, and which the Government wanted for tho purpose of building a bridge at Tikorangi. [Tho Chairman here read his letter]. In reply to this letter he received a letter from the Under-Secretary of Public Works acknowledging receipt of his letter, and making explanation about the gir ers, but strange to say no reference to the dredging was made in the reply. [The Chairman here read the reply he had received]. Mr Coukill said that Mr Smith was wrong in spying that they undervalued his services, for the members were fully con scious of the services Mr Smith bad rendered in respect of the harbour aud the district generally, but he considered that the question of this £3000 was being carried on in a most unbusinesslike way The Board had not received a scratch of a pen on the subject; all they knew was what Mr Smith had told them. There was nothing tangible before them, not even a notification from the Government, and he contended it was a matter that should be properly known to them before the Board could take any action Mr Smith said that as soon as the Government had decided which department was to carry out the work they would communicate officially with the Board. He was not responsible for no notification being sent to the Board by the Government, but he believed that the Board would receive due notice when it was decided which department was to do tho work — the Public Works or Marino. It was a matter which neaJod stirring up, as the departments were slow in their system oi working, and as a proof of this he stated that the Public Works Department had been enquiring for three weeks for information about tho Oamaru dredge, which information Mr Mills, of tho Union S.S. Company, at.d himself obtained eventually in three days. If they urged tho mattei on he was certain that thoy would gel •he dreclgo here in the course of threi weeks, but if thoy left it to the Depaitment it might be three monthd before the dredge came here, and this, lie contended, would be a groat waste of valuable time, considering the bad state the harbour wot now in from sand. He had been down t( the harbour since his return from Wellington, and he could assure them that immediate action in dredging was imperative il they deeirea the harbour to be kept open for the steamers trading to the port,

Mr Corkill was of opinion that the i Government were showing an unreasonable i delay. i Mr Smith agreed with the remade, and : added that it was necessary, therefore, to huny the Government up. Mr Corkill remarked that the Board could not very well take action until they had something before them in. the shape of an official intimation from the Government. Mr Kyngdon said that it appeared to him lhat there was wilful delay on the part of the Government, and ttiat they really did not intend to spend the money that had been placed on the Supplementary Estimates. J At this stage a desultory discussion ensued on the question whether certain words wero in a telegram that Mr Smith had sent from Wellington to tho Tab Ah aki Herald in connection with this £3,000. Tho Chairman, Messrs Smith, Corkill, Connett, and Shuttleworth took part in the discussion, which had no direct bearing on tho matter the Board were discussing. The outcome of the dis- | cussiou was that Mr Smith left tho meeting to obtain tho copy of tho telegram I referred to. The Chairman informed, the Boavd that the origin of tho £3000 being placed on the Estimates was in a debate on the mail serv'ces, when it was pointed out that 6teamers were delayed here, and that if the Government would improve the harbor a better class of boats would be put on. At the timo of our Jubilee tho Premier had volunteered a statement to him that the Government would send a dredge here, and place some money on the Estimates to carry out the work, and that this would probably be done in October. Mr Sarten pointed out the great necessity theie was to start dredging in viow of the fact that -the Captain of tho B.s. Takapnna was finding the navigation of tho port a work of difficulty and danger. Mr Corkill replied that such facts were known to the Board. The question before them was whether the Government really j intended to expend £3000 in dredging, and on this point they had received no intimation from the Government. Mr Sahten said that it wns quite right for him to point out that unless something were doae soon in dredging the harbour would be closea. Further discussion ensued, and finally Mr Corkill moved in effoct that a letter be addressed to the Minister of Public Works and Marine, as from the Board, asking for a reply to the Chairman's letter of Sentember 24 as to information concerning the £3000, and pointing out the urgency of dredging work ; and also that a letter be addressed to the Premier on the same subject, and reminding him of his promise made at Jubilee time. Mr Kyngdon seconded tho resolution, which was carried unanimously. It was also decided to enclose with the resolution a communication from tho harbormaster on the difficulty of working the Takapuna at the harbor. Further discussion of a general character took place until Mr Smith's return. On the resolution just passed being read to him, Mr Smith suggested that, in order to save time, the Board should send a representative to Wellington to urge on the Government in the matter, armed with the resolution just passed, end then the representative could proceed on to Oamaru to hasten the equipment of the dredge. Mr Beatley opposed such a course, as it would be taking the responsibility on themselves. Mr Connett stated that the Board bad no authority to send a representative in the way suggested by Mr Smith. Mr Smith replied that he suggested this course in order to save time, for he really believed that if tho matter were left to departmental routire the dredge would not be here till some three months hence. Mr Corkill objected to anyone going down as proposed, as it would look like a pleasure trip, and a waste of the ratepayers' money. After further discussion, Mr Smith said that it was no uso for him to move an amendment as it would not be carried. Messrs Corkill and Connett rep'ied that they were quite willing to support Mr Smith if there was anything tangible before the Board. Mr Smith stated that he had been offered a free passage by the Union Co., but he could not afford the other expenses that he would incur in going to Oamaru. Air Sarten thought the Board would do a wise thing if they sent Mr Smith to hasten matters in connection with the dredging. Mr Smith remarked that after Mr Corkill'B expression about a pleasure trip he would not accept an offer to go, and hinted that he would appeal to a public meeting on the question. - After further discussion the question dropped.