THE EASTERN EXTENSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13874, 10 April 1909, Page 7

THE EASTERN EXTENSION.

To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald." Sir, —The gale of last Tuesday, coupled with your excellent leading article in Thursday's issue, has been a subject of considerable discussion during the past few days. There is no doubt that, despite the assurance of the late Board, as emphasised by Mr Craigie on Saturday last, that the ratepayers throughout the ' whole district are far from satisfied with the present state of affairs. Your leading article sums up the position when you state that "the significance of tlie slight damage done is the hint that is given that the mole is not strong enough to be left in its present condition for all time. '. . .. and a sea which did not reach its maximum of power, in disturbing the material of the mole, tumbled some of it about. This fact seems to he a practical form of advice 4» the Harbour Board to consider the whole position." Mr Craigie's chief argument against the completion of this work is on the question of finance, which he estimates at £20,000; but he overlooks one important fact, namely, the depreciation in plant and repairs, which will be absolutely necessary to be done, if the work is held over for five years, as is apparently the opinion of the late Board. I believe that the plant in use. independent of the staging, etc., cost over £16.000, and putting the present value of same at £BOOO, and allowing the moderate sum of 10 per cent, for interest and depreciation, it means that by the end of five' years the Board's plant would be wortih only £4OOO, if so much. If we include depreciation of the staging, etc., and" the additional cost of renewal of ■it miles of tram line, it is evident that

the loss to the Board, if the cb'uipletion of the extension is deferred for the five years, as stated hy the chairman, will practically be as much as the necessary work if done at once will cost, and the cost to the ratepayers will he doubled. The plea of the late Board that they must be guided by the advice of their engineer is absurd. They have never done that from the time they received Sir John Coode's report down to the present day. Mr Craigie says that Mr Maxwell's plan, passed by the Royal Commission, provided for a half-tide wall, 4 feet above low water, and the mole had been made 9 feet abovjj high water, which is evident that the money paid for "engineers' advice had been wasted, and their opinions valuless, else the Board would have carried them out. Therefore if the opinions of practical engineers are disregarded, and the Board decide in their wisdom to raise the mole to the height mentioned, why do they object now, when others who are quite as competent as the members of the Board urge the completion of the extension, ana quote the engineers, whose advice they practically rejected, as being. against the completion? Mr Craigie's argument that because the sea on Tuesday last was the heaviest .since the mole was carried to its present stage, the damage done was slight, and therefore the extension should be ieft as it is, will not hold good. It is admitted that it was a heavy sea, but there is no denying Ihe fact that far heavier seas have been experienced in Timaru, and although we have not had one of late years, we may- experience one at any time. And forewarned is forearmed. I am confident that, when it does come, unless the breakwater is made as strong as possible, and it is not so now, as even Mr Craigie admits, there will be more damage done than the forcing of sleepers and the shiftinfi of rubble, for a breach will be made in the weakest part—Mr Craigie admits there is some weak parts—that will cost a large sum of, money to make good the damage. There is a difference of opinion between the members of the Board, and a large body of ratepayers, chiefly, I think, because a majority of the Board do not like to advocate a loan to finish this work. I would suggest that the new Board take a vote of the ratepayers on this question. If the vote is against the completion of the «xtenr sion, it would relieve the Board* of all responsibility. There is another important matter worthy of consideration by the new Board, namely: that the largo amount of direct and indirect import of goods from England, necessitates the reviewing of the agreement in force v ith the "Railway Department for the delivery of goods. Last year 10,160 tons were landed in Timaru by the direct steamers, on which importers paid ti the Railway Department about £702 independent of £327 8s Id paid for the collection of wharfage. It is the general opinion, that it is about time the Harbour Board took into considsration the advisability .of erecting their own sheds and making the main »i'hi;:f i>< a !- able for the cartage of goods, the importers and consumers this t.njust charge.—l am, etc., JOHN E. HURDLEY.