THE HARBOUR BOARD'S WHITE ELEPHANT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11714, 15 July 1901, Page 3

THE HARBOUR BOARD'S WHITE ELEPHANT.

TO THK BDITOB.

Sir,— lf I may bepermitted to encroach upon your valuable space, I should like to diaw your attention to the fact that as time rolls on so does money, and' that we ratepayers have so little to cora.e and go upon' that it makes us careful how we spend the little we have ; not so with -some of the members of the Harbour Board. They go blundering on heedless of expense. What is the result ? Between five and six thousand pounds has been spent and there is nothing to show for it but a "white elephant" in the fehape of the " Sandpump." Sir, it would have been .well for the Board had they taken heed of. the warning and object lesson I gave them -some three years ago -next month. . "In order to test the opening of the wall' l asked them to put out a " hording " to test the action of the sand, previous to going to any large expense. I This was taken no notice of. Hence the above result. ' Then the warning to consult Mr Napier Bell was treated in a similar manner. Surely, sir, if Australia, Tasmania, our own Government, and the principal Harbour Boards of New Zealand have consulted him on harbour matters he is a j fit and proper peraon for the New Ply pmou'th Harbour BoarJ to coasult. I ntribced by a. local in a recent publication b^rfche Herald that the Board had reIsojvpd to consult Mr Bell. This simply means that they are. locking the stable i door after the horse has gone. Now, ' Sir, had the Board used the money spent - on the sandpump in connecting the Lion Rock and Moturoa Island the rate payers to-day would have ocean steamers' calling here fbrottr prddace, and coming here direct from Australia and Home. I trust that the time is not far off when this- will be an accomplished fact. Trusting thirf will call into the field an abler pen than mine. -I am, &c, ; P. B. Rosa.