THE Wellington Independent. "Nothing extenuate; Nor set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 7th MAY. THE PATENT SLIP.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1865, 7 May 1863, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent. "Nothing extenuate; Nor set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 7th MAY. THE PATENT SLIP.

This subject, about whioh it was supposed there would be v general concurrence in the Council, was unfortunately made the occasion for one of those injudicious squabbles, which sometimes take place on the respective merits of town and country expenditure. We can readily under* stand why the representatives of country districts should seek for as large an expenditure for their constituents as is reasonably necessary, — the wants or conveniences of the country j always suggesting innumerable objects, on j which a revenue, a hundred lin:es as large as ours is, might be spent to advantage ; but we cannot understand why the expenditure which is needed for so importaut a part of the Province as tbe port, is to be opposed in the way it so frequently is. Evidently we do not all grow wiser as we grow older ; or we should not thus disbelieve in the necessity there is for mutual help wherever the welfare of the whole depends on the prosperity of its parls. " The belly and the members" is a fuble which should be printed in letters of gold, and bung in every conspicuous part of tbe legislative premises. Then possibly all might.be brought to recognise the reflex advantage, which the welfare of ths country and the town mutually create ; that

just as the country is everything to tbo port., jso the port is everything to tlie country. The hands and feet are necessary to supply tha wants ofthe beJly, but tbe ■ belly is equally V necessary to provide strength for the whole system. The more tbe town or country prospers, the better is it for them both. " Roads for the Country " has been one of tbe main points <*»f the Superintendent's policy. It was indeed for many years almost the absorbing point, because bis Honor-knew very well that it was a primary necessity to open up . the country by great arterial lines. But to en» able settlers to bring their produce to Wellington, should uot be the sole end of a Government, even if it were only desirous of fostering purely .country interests. It ought to do what it can towards ensuring all reasonable facilities for the produce ol the country finding a ready market ; and one of the most patent ways in which tbis can be done, is to make the port attractive for shipping. Splendid crops and good roads- aie comparatively useless without a port. Taranaki bas no port and oftentimes its produce bas lain waiting shipment until spoiled or tbe market lost. Auy amount of money was therefore rscognised as wisely spent if it would induce vessels to call there,, and thus an effective, though costly boat service was organised. Tlie, more vessels we can induce to visit our own . port, the less the cost of freight: on produce. shipped, and of course the less the .expenses of shipment tbe greater the profit-*— not to the merchant always, as speakers of tbe countty parly often insist upon, but lo the producer also. Shippers will buy anything, uo matter what, if ihey cau see their way to a profit. If, for instance, they can only be certain of realising at Otago two shillings a pound for butter, tbey will not give higher than one and cine pence for it here, because the expenses will leave only a penny profit ; but, if the expenses were reduced one half, tbey could then as equally afford to give to tbe producer one and ten as tbey cau to give one and nine now. This reasoning ia so simple and childish, tbat we must plead ac our excuse for indulging in , it the childishness of tbose who think the hands, feet, and belly bave no connection with or are independent of each other. Many and obvious reasons will present themselves why a patent slip or floating dock would be highly beneficial. Why, for instance, doea the Intercolonial Company make ils head quarters in Sydney .** Certainly hot because it is to its advantage to do so, but simply and entirely because there is no possibility of repairing and overhauling its fleet in New Zealand. Captain Vine Hall last year estimated the expenses under that hoad at £ and witb the additional steamers which will this year be employed, it will shortly be very much greater. If the Intercolonial Company's fleet alone speud thus much, our readers will be able to form some idea of how large an amount is an nually lost to the colony from tbe want of tbe means of repairing and overhauling shipping. But it is Wellington's special duty to set ahout the erection of a pateut slip, because the facilities, wbich the natural advantages oi tbif port offer, are very superior to those of our neighbors. Whether it is undertaken by a Company, with a guaranteed interest or by tbe Government, we care very little; that will be a l>oin t for the Select Committee to considers—but we see every necessity for its being undertaken without delay. Looking over tbe batch oi paper* liid upon the table the other evening, we find an interesting communication from Messrs Wbite of Williamstown (a brauch pf. the celebrated ship-building firm at Cowes) wbich shows how peculiarly fitted Wellington is for the construction of a slip. Mr William Wbite writes :■— «■ I will first allude to the claim of superiority put forward by Nelson and Wellington for tha carrying out of the above named project. Having personally visited both ports and possessing no special interest in either, I will give you an impartial judgment. " There is a marked difference between Wellington and Nelson; the former having very little rise and fall of tide and the latter a great deal. " In the construction of a slip a great rise and fall of tide can be taken advantage of in lessening the expenses of the under water portion of the work, but this is the only advantage it possesses. There are great disadvantages in using a slip when there Ib a great rise and full of tide, as you can only- put the vessel on at the top of high water, and as is often tho case you have scarcely an inch of water to spare. You may get tho vessel partially on, but on account of a ragged keel, or other obstructions, you, find that before the ship is properly on the blqcks the tide has fallen, and tha ship liable to bo (trained and damaged. This has sometimes occurred. " Having had great experience with a slip at Cowes, Isle of Wight, where there is fourteen feet rise and fall,* wo often found it difficult to get the vessels properly secure! before tbe tide began to fall. There is no such difficulty with the Government slip heie at Williamstown, as tbe rise and fall of tide is only about two feet six inches, and ships can be taken on and launobed at any time of tide, and if owing to strong winds, ragged keels, or any other cause, you are detained io getting the ship properly- cradled, you are not afraid of losing the tide or risking the Bhip., " For this reason I should muoh prefer Wellington to Nelson for laying down a patent slip." The advantage which the Williamstown slip possesses in having so little rise and fall of tide to contend wilh, is one which is shared in by ourselves and not by ouv neighbors. By a reference to the " New Zealand Pilot " we find - the vise and fall to be as follows :~- Wellington . . 2. to <5 feet Kelson .. 6 to 14 „ Pt. Lyttelton.. 4 to 74 „ 4 Otago .. 5 to 7 „ Mature having done all that she could to render this pott the first iv New Zealand, it rests witb us to keep tbe advantage and. turn to tbe best account tbe natural facilities we possess, and we trust, therefore, that instead of there being any further contention amongst tbe members of the provincial body, they will unanimously decide jon at once carrying out the work. But advan* tageously as we are situated for a slip, it demands very serious enquiry whether a slip or floating dock is niost desirable. We trust that on so important a point the fullest evidence will be taken by thefcommittee, and that no hasty decision will be arrived at.;;, Tbey should report conditionally if ''J^oj-^xpt^pt^^x\yfsPiiff-.: tain which is tbe jtesjt,. and send a ; ov«^j^ipiiA to' Syfoejr^ta^mi^ both, rather than decide upou eU^r^jli^qi a dook doubtfaliy*- */ y; A^IC '0£