The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1893

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 9624, 15 February 1893, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1893

— » The advico of the Hon. Mr Soddon to tho deputation which waited upon him on Thursday respecting tho harbor was in effect that if the people would help themselves, the Governinont would give all the assistance they could to aid thorn in protecting thoir works. The Minuter of Public Works, however, took cure to make tho deputation understand clearly that so far as money was concerned they need not look to tho Government for a sou. He pointed out that tho Ministry had given a pledge to Parliament that no inoro money sho.ild be spent on the New Plymouth harbour and in tho faco of that ho did not see how he could promise any. Mr Seddon, on Tuesday morniog,inspectod the work, and although he was rather un fortunate as regards the weather, he (.ive it a» his opinion lint he did not think that there was any fear of the end of tho breakwater giving way, but at the bond there was a place gutted out, and if this was not attended to he thought a breach would be caused, which might take with it a section or two. This would moan a ruth of water into the enclosure, and in rough weetorly weather it would prevent vessels lying at the wharf. To prevent any such soriou* calamity, the Minister of Public Works suggests that tho prisoners now at work in the Recreation Grounds should be employed at the breakwater in making apron work outside the weak spot. lie also pointed out that tho Board had two locomotives which were apparently going to ruin; one of these, he advised, should be sold and tho money applied to iho repair of tho mole. Mr Soddon said tho Public Works Depart aient wero in need of a locomotive at the prosont timo, and ho was prepared to make an olferfor one; ho would also eco if ho could obtain the loan of a crane and trucks [from tho Westport Harbour Board. Tlioy could also have the services of the tngineer to direct the works. In fact Mr Seddon offered to aid the Board all in his power, bat—and this he was very firm on—" he wished it to bo distinctly understood that the Government wou'd not undertake any responsi bility in tho matter." Mr Seddon could not be got to waver in the slightest from tho decision he had already givon thut no money need bo expected ; and not even the persuasive eloquence of Mr Samuel could get the Minister of Public Works to promise oven a subsidy of £ for £ on any sum raised by tho miblic. Tho unfortunate part of tho affair is that Iho bondholders have a lien over all tho plant belonging to tho tlarbour Board, or monoy might bo raised on thut. But tho bondholders themselves might be npproachod on tho matter, with a view to gotting tho interest reduced, as has boon done at Oamaru, and the monoy so saved utilised for keoping the work in repair. Tho Railway Commissionerß, too, might give some little assistance, for it is vury important that tho harbour should bo kept open if tho through line from Wellington is to be of any uso. We cannot believe that there ie no way out of the

difficulty, and we hope the now Board when it meets will devise eoino scheme for doing the necessary work required, and for further improving the accommoJation in the harbour.

His Worship the Mayor has called a meeting at the Town Council to-morrow (Thursday) night for the purpose of organising a committee to raise funds for the relief of the sufferers by the Queensland floods ; in the meantime anyone wishing to send food that will bear trans* mission to Queensland should send it in to tho Town Clerk. Appeals from faranaki, when the people have boon in trouble, have met with generous response from outsiders, so we hope that those who have plenty will help in contributing to the fund. Mr W. J. Spurge reports the sa'e of the lease of aSO acre farm to Mr J. Hale, on account of Mr E. J. Carthew, at a satisfactory figure. Messrs J. C. Davies and E. Hawoith, who returned from a trip up the mountain on Sunday, state that they felt the shake at the accommodation house, but that it was not noticed by a party of ten or twelve who were on and about the top at the time. It is rumoured in Wellington that Mr Percy Smith, the Surveyor-General, will shortly retire from the public service, and that ha will be succeeded by Mr Baker, the present Crown Lands Commissioner in Wellington. Captain Edwin telegraphed at 2 p.m. to-day :—": — " North-wost to west and south gale soon with rain and heavy aea ; glass rise after 10 hours from now. Indications o£ sudden changos of wind. We understand that the PostmaßterGeneral will accede to the request of Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., to place a pillar box at tho east end of Devon-Btreet. Mr J. J. Cameron, advance agent for Hayes' Circus, has arrived in town to make the necessary arrangements for tho appearance of tho circus here next week The Premier has roceived the following from the manager of the Union Co. "We have nut a steamer loading for Brisbane direct, but will, however, bo glad to lake a hundred tons of gift supplies by the Hauroto to Sydney free of freight, and havo no doubt that similar favorable arrangements can bo made with the companies on the other sido as regards freight from Sydney to Brisbane. The Hauroto loads at Oamaru to-day, Timaru on Thursday, and Lyttelton on Monday." A deputation from the Taranaki R : fie Volunteer Company waited on the Dofence Minister on Tuesday afternoon in connection with several matters. Tho deputation consisted of Major Ellis, and Lieutenants Okey and Cock, Captain Paul bein< absent on account of an accident to his ankle. The deputation askod the Minister for permission to retain somo tents that wero sent up here for use at tho Voluntoer picnic, rhispermissiontho Minister granted. Some enquiries were also made about tho noxt encampment, the Minister replying that tho matter was in the hands of Colonel Fox, who would report on the subject. Several minor subjects were discussed. The Minister afterwards visited tho drill hall, and expressed great pleasure at seeing such a building.