A LIBEL ON TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2826, 13 October 1883, Page 3

A LIBEL ON TIMARU.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMABU HERALD. I 818, — Knowing the great interest you take i m the commercial welfare of (ho Port of Timaru, I enclose for you- perusal an extract | taken from Mitchell's Maritime Segisler of the 10th inst. You will see that tho existence, of jour Breakwater is totally ignored, and the general impression conveyed that all vessels loading at the port have no option but to lie . m the open roadstead till tuch time as their loading is completed. I need hardly say, Sir, that a statement of thin description, published m euch an influential and widely-circulated pnper as the above, is calculated (withoutcontradiotion by the proper ; authorities) to do the district an infinite amount of harm. It is, of eourjo, difficult i for an outsider to say whether the extract referred to has been written m malice or ehoer ignorance, but if the latter, it is surely time your Hnrbor Board took some steps towards enlightening the shipping world on this side as to the existing capabilities for loading and discharging vessels of a certain tonnage ' within the protection of yoar Breakwater, I am, Ac, G. E. DIVIB3. London, August 22nd, 18S3. " TIMABTJ AND OAMABU (N.Z ). " The riik to vrnjell loading at Timaru is very great. They lie m the roadstead there for a month at least, and tho fixed tiriff rato of premium for insurance is 80s per cont, the Insurance Companies m New Zealand declining to accept less. expected to be completed m about six months. When these are finished it is considled that that roadstead will no loDgor bo designated dangerous." I [This extract from Mitchell's Kcyistcr has appeared iv our columns boforo ; but its republication is opportune just now, as explaining tho action resolved upon by tho Harbor Board on Thursday.— Ed. T.H.]