THE HARBOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 143, 28 June 1901, Page 2

THE HARBOR.

WHAT WAS INTENDED BY THE ACT? CAPTAIN TUCKER’S MOTION. j t At the meeting . fthe Harbor Board yes- f terday aftern •? i, Captain Tucker moved < in accordan---aith notice : “That i.i the opinion of this Board a < harbor such as contemplated in the Gis- I borne Harbor Act, ISS4, cannot be made 1 inside the river. The Board therefore must take into consideration how to pro- ’ cure the construction of a harbor outside the river suitable for vessels of over 12 feet draught.” Captain Tucker said that all the members would be conversant with the Act, the preamble of which set out that vessels of large tonnage wero to be provided for, also there was to be a harbor of refuge on the East Coast for vessels of large tonnage. The Act had been carried owing to the eloquence of Sir Georgo Grey.' If it was anticipated that there was to be anything like the work they had now in hand the Bill would have been ignominiously thrown out. It was on the ground that it was to be a harbor of refuge that the endowment was granted. Had they, on going to the ratepayers, given them a schedule of the way the money was to have been spent would thoy' have voted for it ? Not one would have. It was contemplated that the harbor was to be something on the lino suggested by Sir John Coode. Was this the harbor provided for by the Act ? He did not think anyone could contend that that was so. No one, ho thought, would be bold enough to say that even if the draught of water in the river were deepened to 20 or even 50 feet then the object of the Act would have been fulfilled. The river never could become a harbor from its contracted space. It might be possiblo for a vessel of large tonnage to get. in, but it could not get out. It put him in mind of Napolean’s utterances, “ I have fifty generals who could got into London, but not ono who] could get out again.” They had brought Mr Napier Bell there, and in answer to him (the speaker) he replied in effect :• “ Gentlemen, you must never expect to have a harbor here. You will have a nice little place for vessels of about 12 feet draught, but never expect more.” The question raised by Mr Whinray was important. After an enormous expenditure their lighterage and freight were no less, and the wharfage was more. Mr Clark : Not to mention rates. Captain Tucker said yes, that was a very serious matter. He thought with the increased area covered the rates should bo lessoning. • ' Mr Macfarlane asked how about the 1 borough valuations, of which there had i been correspondence in the Tim ns. Captain Tucker said he supposed the valuations would go up, and that would mean more rates. The district’s main exports, wool and meat, were on the down 1 grade. Of courso’they' must not look at 1 the matter personally, but must consider ’ the people generally—thoy should have 1 facilities commensurate with the money bcing'spent. Mr Cooper: If wc keep on going the . way you , Captain Tucker : This is putting in the . thin end of the wedge. We do not wish , to aggravate people— l — The Chairman: I thought we were , going to make a harbor of refugo—it [ seems to mo you arc getting us more in the way of an old men’s refuge, (Laughter.) Captain Tucker said that it seemod the i present method of doing things would put them somewhere. Ho did not wish to be charged by the public with having squandered the money and provided noth- : ing.

Mr Hepburn : But you want another large loan. Captain Tucker said he did not want to have words put in his mouth that he did not say. There had evidently been an omission of a word in his motion. His chief reason for bringing the matter forwarded was to ascertain “ Is this present thing the be-all and end-all; of what we want ?”, If there was never to be any harbor outside, and thoy were to confine themselves to improving the river, then they would know what to do, so that every expenditure could be made to dovetail in with what ever scheme they had in mind. Now was the time..for some ex--pression from the Board as to what that scheme should be. “ I am not going to ask the Board,” said Captain Tucker, “ to at present embark upon a-large scheme for a harbor — this thing is not a harbor,-.and never can be. When are weto get rid of lighterage?” Mr Cooper : Not for ten years, if you have your way. Captain Tucker said that under any scheme they could not get rid of lighterage for fifteen years. They could not expect a steamer to bo run into the neck of a bottle. If thoy had fifty feet of water, they would not get the vessels to oome into the narrow way. The Chairman : Yes, wo will; if we give them a turning way. Captain Tucker said if they asked any of the captains of the large vessels, they would find they would not get them to come in. Vessels were every year being

built of larger tonnage. lie was not at present advocating that a large work should bo taken in hand ; the present harbor would have to be kept open even if they broke their backs in doing so. As to the latter portion of the motion, he did not intend anything being done at present. In ten years’ time, they might think of something of the kind. Some time ago, Mr Rees had written articles, suggesting that they might get a harbor built without cost to the Board.

Members, laughing, said that would suit. J

Captain Tucker said that ho did nol contemplate any big scheme at present.

Mr Macfarlane seconded the motion pro forma. Go said that he was not aware of any scheme of an outer harbor being before the Board while ho had sat on it. All their energy had been devoted to pushing on with’ the present work.

Mr Sievwright said that the hour was now getting late, and he moved that the debate, which opened up a big question, should be adjourned until the adjourned meeting a fortnight hence. Mr Cooper said it could be disposed of now. The Board was not there to make a harbor of refuge for the whole of the East Coast. It was not to be thought that the people of this district were to burden themselves for such a purpose. Probably they would strike oil some day—(hear, hear) —and then they could soon get a’ big outer harbor. . Perhaps Captain Tucker had some inkling of something of the kind.

Captain Tucker said that it must not be supposed that he was now pressing for an outer harbor scheme, or that he was throwing cold water on the present works. Mr Whinray explained that what Mr Rees had said was that he believed that with the residue of the loan they could so arrange as to have an efficient outer harbor.

It wag resolved that the debate bo adjourned.