TPE NEW PLYMOUTS HARBOR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 6926, 8 October 1889, Page 2

TPE NEW PLYMOUTS HARBOR.

Tub startling news wo are able to publish to-day respecting a roport by Sir John Coode advising the abandonment of the New Plymouth. Harbour, will creato a profound sonsation throughout the length and breadth of the colony. We vouch for the information being absolutely reliable and authentic. The report is now in the hands of tho Government, who are called upon to submit Sir John Coode's opinion at once to a committee of experts, which should bo authorised to obtain data in time to submit the whole to Parliament next session. The question that has to be decided is whother the eneroachmont of the sand can be met and dealt with at a reasonable cost. Sir John Coode had no doubt the best information then available before him when he was asked to report, but it is just possible there may bo somo reason to suppose that either tho data wero incomplete or his conclusions aro not justified. The Harbour Board 19 not likely to rest satisfied with an opinion which, if acted upon, would be equivalent to the ruin of New Plymouth. It was known that tho sand was accumulating at a rapid rate, and ifc was hoped tho rubblo wall in course of construction would so cut it off as to prevent tho completo blocking up of tho harbour. Indeed we would indulge the hope that this means of safety may still prove available. The Board is unfortunately short of funds, and if dredging on a large scale was tho only resource, ifc would be practically impossible in the present state of the exchequer. The Government have been anxious to gob Parliament to como to tho rescue. It is just possible thut if tho liability could be defined and limitedj and a feasible schemo for keeping open tho port were submitted, the necessary assistance would be given. The position is critical and requires more than ordinary skill in meeting the contingency.