The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1898.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11317, 8 September 1898, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1898.

Perhaps the most satisfactory feature of the discussion which ba9 been going on upon the harbour question is the distinctly more friendly tone manifested,, in the country districts, more especially ' at Stratford. For many years, in fact ever Bince the harbour rate was first levied, there has been a feeling of hostility, or at any rate a want of, sympathy, towards the breakwater. Perhaps this was only natural, for the settlers, except in a comparatively small aiea around New Plymouth, found it difficult to see of what benefit the harbour, for which they were called upon to pay, was to them. Other harbours, to which they did not directly contribute, seemed to answer all their ! purposes. And so they did up to a certain point, but as the trafe of the •district grew, the need of better harbour accommodation began to be felt. The enormous development of the dairy industry has made a regular steam service, independent of tides and the weather, an absolute necessity, and the establishment of freezing works at Moturoa has concentrated thi3, by far the most important trade of the district where such a service can best be obtained. Gradually the fact that this must be the outlet of tbe district has been' forced upon the settlers, nearly all of whom are dow more or less directly interested in obtaining sure and quick shipment of produce. This fact has given rise to the improved feeling towards the breakwater, and it augurs well for the future prosperity of the port and the province. At a mseting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce held last week it was decided to act with tbe New Plymouth Chamber in endeavouring to secure a reduction of freights aud improved shipping facilities at this port. One speaker, who, by the way, has always hitherto been a hostile critic of the breakwater, questioned whether the time had not arrived when the Harbour Board should obtain the advica of some thoroughly eminent marine engineer to report on the whole question of the harbour, and further suggested that £500,000 or £600,000 would be well spent if a good harbour could be obtained for deep ocean going steamers. This, 'coming from the country, is rather a startling proposal, but after all it is the country that is chiefly interested in obtaining increased facilities for shipping produce. It is probable that onefourfch of the amonnt suggested would provide all the accommodation that will be required for very many years, but the idea of consulting the best available marine engin* «ting advice is a good one. Even before* laying out £11,000 in a new diedge it would, we think, be wise to obtain a report from some recognised authority on harbour works on the proposed connection of Mikotahi and Motuvoa. However, until the result of the survey now being made is known, it is hard to say what is best to be done. If the survey shows as favourable a condition of the Harbour as the Chairman of the Board expects, then the necessity ' for so large an outlay as £11,000 will not be pressing.

for during the nekfc eight ino'ntb.9 the present dredging power should be able to get ahvad of the sand. On the other hand, if the sand is found to be seriously increasing, the first duty of the Board will be -to obtain l increased dredging power., ; The report "will be available in a week or two ; uatil then we must have patience. , ,

A prohibition order, wss-ia«ued against a man named Shaw in the police Court on Wednesday. The Borough election for representatives to fill the Central and West Ward vacancies is taking place to-day. Tho fifteenth 'annual, show 6f. the Egmont A. & P. Association will be held at Hawera on November 3rd and 4th. The Borough Works Committee baa; adopted a resolution »to the,, effect that in future any. iperaons greeting buildings in the borough before submitting the. plans' thereof as required, by the bye laws will be proceeded against. A copy of the motion will be sent to all architects in town. < '•' '

The Finance Committee of the Borough has approved of the following transfers on the borough roll:— W. Courtney to P R. Carrnew, r pt..storehouse reserve ;^ W. Harris to Julia C0ad,1457, East Ward ; M. Travers to M. A. Rennell, 143, West Ward ; O . Carrington to P. W . Richmond 735,, Central Ward ; H. A. Oholwill ; to I. A. Clark. 213, 214, West.

It is the intention of a number of Taranaki County 'ratepayers in the Eltham Road Special Rating District— some 30 in all— to teat'the'Council's power to enforce the full rate. One case was called on at the Magistrate Court on U edneßday, when Mr Roy, solicitor for the Council, stated that Mr Barton, who was appearing for the : defendants', had been' detained at Hawera, and it had been agreed to apply for an adjournment for a fortnight. The adjournment was agreed to. Some interesting law points will it is expected, be argued when the case is dealt with. r

Im order to show that the exorbitant charges made at the Breakwater are killing the iinpbrt'tfade of the chief port of Taranaki, it is stated by the Record that barb -wire can be brought to^WaitarasLna\ railed to Inglewood, thence by-road id Sent Road, seven miles f distant,, cheaper than it bah be landed .afci tbe breakwater,' It is high, time QOitie reduction was made in 'theHheav^fp'o^pnd^Hjlway- charges levied at New'PlyxnoOth'-^in the interests af country storekeepers and settlers generally— apait even' from the complaint as J:o excessive f reigbts~chargdd> by the shipping companies

The last regular debate of the Young Men's Debating;; Club was held, on Wednesday night, when c the Old Age Pensions scheme was discussed, Mr S. J. Tingey opening in favour of the scheme, while Mr 0. Barnitt opposed him. Mr P. Page was in the chair, and Messrs C. E. Robbie, P.'Yeale,F. Russell, and P. Pago spoks in the affirmative, while Messrs W. Butler, T. Shaw, G. B.udd, W. Coad, M. Barcitt, B. Clarke, H. Rawson,, Kiyell, and L Connett were against the 1 proposal. On being put to the meeting a motion was carried., in, the negative. Next Wednesday evenirigthe prize competition for speaking will take place, the subject! being, "'ls the Influence of the .Drama Beneficial ? " /

Beneficial i ■ ' A number. of . County rate cases were dealt with. by ; Mr Stanford^ S.M.,'On Wednesday^ Judgment for plaintiff Council by default was given in the fol- i lowing cases: — Taranaki County Council j v. J. Boyle; claim 6s 6d, and costs 6s. Same v. R. Buggj claim £1' 148 4d, and j costs 13s. Same v. W. Costello; claim &, and costs ss. Same v. J. De Castro; claim £1 0s Id; fend oosfcs 55., ■. Same r* M;, Higgina; claim 16s 3cf, and costs ss. Same v. J. McGregor; claim £1 7s, and cosus ss. Same v.'R. Satherly; claim' 19s Bd, and costs 10s. Same v. E. Sutton; claim £1 0s Bd, and : costs'bs;' 1 Same v;-F. Breeze; claim £2 7s 2d,~a'nd posts' 15s< ' Same v. T. Brough; claim ss',' and costs Bs. Same v. J. Copper; claim £1 6s 6d,,and costs ss. Same v. J." Williamson; 1 claim £1 17s 9d, and copts ss. Same V.'R.' A. Wood 1 ; claim £12 lls Bd, and costs 18s. ' 'Same vi E. Roberta; claim 6s'sd,-and costs 53. Judgment was also given in the case, Harbour Board v. M. Olsen; claim 6s Id, and costs Bs. ■ ' ' -ii/vf Wj,., v * The Honorary Treasurers, of. the fund raised for the erection of a 'drinking fountain on the occasion of the (.Queen's Diamond Jubilee are indebted, to the promoters of tbe football . match, Fire, Brigade v. Shopkeepers, 'the, 'pfpcjseds 'or which matck have enabled, them to, close their accounts. The total amount raised and the expenditure thereof is as follows: — Receipts: General public, £pX,,lQ&ji, Sports ground committee, £8 16* 10d',; sale of booth?, £3 ; football, matches. £11 9a 3d ; ,1882 school children, Id subscriptions, £7 16s JOd ; tota 1 , i 162 *,12's lid. Expenditure : Cost of erecting fountain, laying on water, &c, £61 0a 6d;' printing, adveitising^&b., 18s 2d,; r na- ( dption New Plymouth Fire Brigade,' l4s ,3d ; totalj £62 12a lid., We are asked to thank all who have in any way assisted in the work, more especially the 1882 school children who subscribed to the fund. We may add that Mr G. W. Browne is entitled to the credit of having conceived and carried out the project which is now completed.

At a meeting of the Borough Works Committee (Messrs Bellringer, Brooking, and Carthew being present), the follow* ing recommendations were agreed to:— That the footpath on the east sida of Davvsan Street between St Aubyn. and Regina Place be formed, and the earth therefrom deposited on Regina Place ; that the ' Borough Reserve abutting on King-street, used for the Works yard, be f <• need ; that stone corners be placed on the southseast side of Devon-street at" its junction with Mt Edgecombe-street, and that the south side of Devon-st. between Dawson and Mt Edgecorabe^sts have the footpath formed and the gutter paved ; that the consideration of the poundkeeper's letter .bo deferred for the production of his pound-book ; that the right-of-way, as delineated on tbe plan of section pfc. 647 (Bank of New Zealand premises), be approved, it being 6 82 links in width ; that quotations be obtained from local firms or the terms on which they will indent £150 worth of pipes and valves for ihe waterworks. The following quotations were received for rubber belting, 10-inch, 6 ply :— D. Berry and Co ,4s Id per foot ; Okeys, Arnold and Earp, 3s 9d per foor, (acceped).