The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3423, 17 September 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1885.

A year or two ago one heard residents m South Canterbury expressing the opinion that when the Harbor Board's loan of £100,000 had been expended, the district could very well rest ou its oars for a time m regard to the Harbor Works. The anticipations as to the effect of that expenditure have been more than realised. With one of the largest sailing vessels m the New Zealand trade lying m perfect safety for months together under tho shelter of the Breakwater, and with steamers like the Wakatipn loading and unloading alongside the railway wharf we have achieved the utmost that was looked for when the £100,000 loan was floated. Yet one never hears the opinion expressed nowadays that the Board can at length afford to stay its band. If there are people who hold this view they keep it pretty much to themselves, and the general public never hear of it. As a matter of fact, however, we believe that the feeling on the subject among all who have taken a practical interest m the question is really unanimous m favor of further progress. To leave off this great work m its present stage would be like building a fine house and stopping as soon as the first story waß completed. Those who calculated that the £100,000 would be sufficient to construct a harbor suitable for our requirements for many years to come overlooked one circumstance. They did not consider that while they were progressing tho world would not be standing still, and they had no conception of the mighty revolution m the colonial trade which direct steam was destined to effect. Vessels like the Rangitiki, then tho pride and glory of the New Zealand Shipping Company's fleet, are now regarded merely as relics — beautiful relics it is true — of a bygone age. The magnificent fullpowered steamships which now visit our shores, and mako their trips almost with the punctuality of express trains, are rapidly absorbing all tho trade. Sailing vessels, it is clear, will have to take quite a subordinate position m future, and will be, for the most part, relegated to second-rate ports. Any shipping town which desires to hold its own therefore must make provision for the largest steamers. It is only by their aid that the frozen meat trade — whioh increases m magnitude every day, and whose ultimate development no one can foresee — can be carried on. Oamaru has already made arrangements for a visit from one of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's fine boats, and probably will be constituted a regular port of call by the Company ut no distant date. Timnru, whioh has a far finer back country from which to draw supplies, certainly cannot afford to lag btehind m tho race. There is &

tide m the affairs of towns, as of men, j which, taken at tho flood, leads on to j fortune. If it be not so taken, tbe community m question, which Las missed its opportunity, is apt to find itself sti-anded high and di-y on the leesbore of dullness and depression. Those who talk about " resting on the oars" for a while, should remember tbat tbe stream of commerce, if not properly directed and taken advantage of at tbe | outset, is very apt to make for itself | fresh channels and outlets, from wbicb I all tbe engineering talent m tbe world is not able afterwards to divert it. As to tbe necessity of going on with the works with the utinoßt possible j expedition, there will probably hardly jbe two opinions. Any difference : tbat is likely to exist, we fancy, ' will be on tbe question as to whether the Board should go m jfor a loan of £50,000 or £100,000. That, of course, is a matter for consideration, but we fancy it will be found [ tbe truest economy not to " make two j bites at a cherry," but to go m for tbe j larger sum at once. It is sure to be ; needed, and may as well be raised first 1 as last, inasmuch as the expenses of , raising a loan of £50,000 will be nearly as much as the cost of floating i .€IOO,OOO. Hitherto tbe Board have i been able to invest tbe unemployed i balance to advantage, and there is no reason to suppose they will not be able ito do so m the future. As to the direction m which the money should be . expended, part of it will be devoted to j extending the Breakwater and part to ; lengthening tbe Moody wharf so as to I enable it to accommodate ocean-going I steamers. It is also pretty clear that i a portion of it will be wanted ! for dredging. This has been found ! necessary m all other artificial harbors, and there is reason to believe Timaru will not escape the common lot. It has been suggested — and tbe idea seems tbe most feasible as yet put forward — that the best plan would be i ! to hire a big dredge from Dunedin or , Lyttelton for say three months, so as j to scoop out tbe necessary channels for | the large steamers and to invest m an | ordinary Priestmau dredge for the I purpose thereafter of keeping these ! channels clear. Probably tbe expense of the hire and purchase together would not come to much less than £25,000, so tbat it is easy to see, even if £100,000 be raised, the margin left will not be m any degree too large to carry out the necessary works of extension. As far as human foresight can discover, however, we shall then have a harbor capable of receiving any vessel likely to be employed m the New Zealand trade. Above all we have already the great satisfaction of knowing that we are getting value for our money. It is not being thrown away m hazardous and often unproductive experiments as at Dunedin and Port Chalmers. We have a sure foundation on which to work, and without laying ourselves open to a charge of over confidence, we can look forward to the time when Timaru will be able to give harbor accommodation equal to any at present to be found m the ports of the South Island. Having already done so much m this direction, it is at least worth while putting forth another strenuous effort to crown tbe work which has been 6o worthily begun.