THE HARBOR CRISIS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 210, 18 October 1888, Page 2

THE HARBOR CRISIS.

MEETING AT MAKARAKA. A meeting of ratepayers was held at Makaraka ou Tuesday night, the attendance being moderate. « Mr Gray proposed, and Mr Arthur seconded, that Mr Crawford take the chair. In doing so, that gentleman regretted the small attendance, this being the most important question affecting the district. He was perfectly satisfied the district was capable of bearing any extra burden that might be imposed by the expenditure of the £40,000, and he thought they should take heart ail'd continue. With a work like that it meant going back when they could not go on. If they did not go on, the work would remain there as a concrete monument as long as Poverty Bay was Poverty Bay. If they looked at it from a plain business point of view, t))py would see that the income would pay the interest. He then called on Mr Chambers to address the meeting. Mr Chambers first reviewed the history of the Board’s difficulties during the last few years. By some extraordinary “ hocus pocus” in tho House, Parliament actually relieved the northern settlers of their engagements and put those engagements on the shoulders of the rest of the district. It was, he said, unfair for those people to have to pay rates, but they should have objected sooner, as they had previous opportunities of doing so, and possibly getting out of the rate. Those people ought not to be relieved at this hour of the day, when so much money had been spent. The difference at present was perhaps trifling, but it ought not to be allowed. The Board .was in a difficulty every way. The legal opinions showed that even if the poll were carried, they would have an extreme difficulty with regard to rates. He thought Mr Bell held out a hope that Government would be compelled to pass some special legislation. The mischief had been done not by the action of the ratepayers, but by the Legislature. Under the circumstances he thought it would be better to have the work hung up for six months so as to be released from their difficulty. If the ratepayers would lay their heads together and were unanimous, they might be able to obtain justice. Mr Wright asked if Mr Chambers thought Mr Thomson’s plan a reliable one. Mr Chambers replied in the affirmative, A number of other questions weie put by Mr Wright, and answered apparently to his satisfaction.

In reply to Mr Arthur, Mr Chambers said he considered if rhe work were carried on it would pav for the additional expenditure— Mr Bourke’s figures proved that. To a further question by Mr Arthur, he replied that it they voted for the expenditure of the £40,000 they entangled themselves with the Act; if they did not they were free, but the Government would probably take the £40,000. Mr Gannon, on rising, sard they did not appear there as.advocates, but to consider the bast course to pursue. The members of the Board retired in February next, and the ratepayers then would have an opportunity of electing-men who would carry out any particular course, but in the meantime they felt compelled to confer with the ratepayers and to act accordingly. He did not go so far as Mr Chambers, and say concessions should not be made to the northern settlers but it was, he said, unjust to exclude nearly 800,000 acres from the rating district. It seemed to him such an act of injustice that it could not be allowed to continue. He thought stopping the works would be disastrous—£6s,ooo had been spent, and there would be no return for it. The most complete answer given to the question whether the expenditure of £40.000 would pay was Mr Higginson’s opinion—he said it was certainly a great pity to stop the works. There was no fault so far as the work was concerned. If there was a stoppage now (and in such suitable weather) there would be all the interest lost

on the blocks and work, and he did not believe they would be any better off by going to Parliament. It was difficult to say what should be done under the circumstances, and he considered it right they should be guided to a great extent by the wishes o£ the ratepayers. By going on with the works until next session it meant no extra taxation because the interest had been provided for. He did not think it was the wish of Parliament to injure the district. If such an Act were passed with regard to Napier there would be such an outcry from one end of the Colony to the other that a remedy would soon bo found. If he were a ratepayer and not also a member of the Board, he would say go on with the work, and risk the penalty. At most it could only be a hundred pounds, and if the At-torney-General did take action they would at least have a fair opponent, and the flue would go back to the harbor fund. But, as had been pointed out by Mr Ormond, there was no provision for the Attorney-General to take proceedings, and he did not think the penalty could be enforced. In reply to Mr Parker, Mr Gannon said ho felt certain that if the £IO,OOO was not spent it would be taken out ol their hands. Messrs Arthur and King said they would like to hear an expression of opinion from Mr

Graham, who was present. Mr Graham then went into an explanation of the circumstances which had led up to this Amending Act being passed. Ho still thought he was right in accepting the Act which made tha limitation, but he wished them to understand that it was owing to the action of a certain section that Parliament had an opportunity of interfering as it had. He justified the concessions which had been made to the Northern Ridings, and thought people here did not consider both sides of the question sufficiently. lie felt sure they would have the money taken from them if they did not go on with the work. The Act no doubt was defective, but he thought it was perfectly workable and that none of these difficulties would ha»e occurred if the Board had gone on vigorously and taken the poll. He thought the proper course now was to take the poll—ha did not see how anyone with the interest of the district at heart could help but vote for the carrying on of the works. If they did not take a poll it would ba looked upp:r as a sign of weakness. Mr Bright questioned Mr Graham as to whether the ratepayers had not been misled by the first statement put before them, and whether he was not responsible for that

statement. Mr Graham admitted he was partially responsible. He would hardly say there had been anything misleading done. They had been ovarsanguine, Ha had alipwed himself to be persuaded Inta an error of judgment. Mr Bright gave some extracts from the statement showing how •• oversanguine ” they had been. The main point was that the harbor dues had decreased instead of in-

creasing. - Mr Graham said it wasintehded to increase the rate, Mr Bright said It had beer, insrqased. Mr Graham said It hadnot -baen increased to the extent intended. Another thing was that at that time they thought, the work would be finished in 1889. At that time plans had

not been presented to them. Mr Bright: It amounts to this then—The money was originally borrowed under misleading data? Mr Graham repeated that were oversanguine. Mr Bright said that was all the more reason why they should proceed cautiously now. kjr King wished to know what would have to & dona with the valuable plant standing there now in gqod order, if the works were Stopped, Mr J. Parker said it would ba folly to stop the works. Going on would only mean a little ■ more taxation. He believed Mr Graham had worked very hard for the district, and he (bought deserved thanks. lit Townley being present, was requested to give bis vlewe, He said he bad eomq to listen and not H a thought the poll should be taken, every precaution being taken to see that it was carried. With regaru to the figures referred to by Mr Bright, the times then were very flourishing, but he believed now the bedrock had been reached. He said he had heard nothing to cause them to change thejr minds as to the work itself. If it was proved'thgt the rating clause was defective it would not be required to be put into force until next session, when it jqigjii Jd jemedied, I Committees should ba formed in the -several

I centres, and the actual feeling ascertained. It I would be disastrous to take a poll unless there was a certainty of its being carried, and with so many absentees it would be difficult to carry. The work had not yet had the slighti eat chance of prqripg itself. He gave instances to show that the river ih times past had teen mtieh worse than I!

the work were .carried out they would be in a much better position than Napier with regard to the frozen meat trade. They should be united, pall together, and have the work carried out. If they voted in favor of the work they would ba taking the best course. Mr Bright said he believed there was far too much of what he called sentimant on the question. He attached great importance to the trade of the port, and that was the very ques tion which the Chairman and Secretary of the Board were unable to answer when in Wellington. They sent to the Collector of Customs, and he had told them it was £20,000. He had gone into the figures and found that it was not correct. By putting the amount received into tonnage they could tell what was the gross earning in wharfages by the Board. He then proved that the correct tonnage was 13,000 instead of 20,000, and then by the expenditure of £40,000 it was never contemplated that big steamers could o me alongside, According to the reports vessels could only lay alongside the pier 250 d lys during the year. He then sh iwed by his figures that the £40.000 would really ou y be for a tonnage of 7000, during the year. Then they had a bad Act to work under, and were Only allowed 0 collect a differential rate, and there was no telling where the radius might not be still further curtailed. He did not express himself one way or the other, but me-ely gave the facts because no one else had done so.

Mr Arthur said he had previously gone into Mr Bright’e figures, and in spite of being quite satisfied they were correct, he thought the best course was to go on. He owned property in both the special district and outside. The difference in rates was very little but of course it was the principal which was objected to. He believed things were improving. He said he had made up his mind to vote for the carrying ou of the wo ks. and spoke at some length in support of his view. A motion was proposed by Mr Parker “That the Board should go on with the works ” Mr DeLautour sail the motion as read was on the lines of Mr Gannon’s suggestion, which was unfeasible and based upon a fallacy. The Board was placed in the position of having to break an Act which said they must not spend thia money without the consent of the ratepayers. If they did so they would be liable to the whole of their personal property. Mr Townley’s suggestion was the only practical one. Mr Bright’s figures were valuable, bat they would be more so if they represented the other side and show what would ba lost by not going on. Mr Parker then altered his motion on the suggestion of Mr Arthur, to read, “ That the Harbor Board shall use their own judgm nt as to taking a poll, and that this meeting is of opinion that the work should be continued to the depth to be obtained by tho expenditure of £40.000. Mr Wright thought it would be premature to pass any resolution then, and moved as an amendment that the meeting refuse to take action until the eases before the Supreme Court had been settled. There was no seconder to the amendment and the motion was carried unanimously. MEETING AT CITY RINK. A meeting was also he'd at the City Rink last night. There was a large attendance. Mr Lewis aooupied the chair and bri-fly stated the object of the meeting, and then called on Mr Dickson to address those present. Mr Dickson said after all they had heard each min must have his mind made up on the matter. If they went to a poll he meant to vote against a continuation of the works. Owing to the isolated position of the district we badly required a harbor. We wanted a harbor to float ocean-going vessels. He believed there was not a better district under the sun for grass growing and fattening properties for stock—that had already been proved. If we were wise in carrying out a harbor he believed we could have the trade of Napier. He contended that the harbor should be built further eastwards —he had bathed on the beach for eleven years and knowing the currents and winds was sure the present work would not be a success. If we go to the poll we would lose the £40,000. He believed next session we would have a better opportunity of getting justice, if not he thought it would be better to let the matter stand.

Mr Towuley said the mealing had been called to get an expression of opinion from the ratepayers, as statements ha 1 gone forth that the Biard was carrring on the works in epposi ion to a large number of ratepayers. A map before them showed that the depth on the expenditure of the £40.000 would be 15 feet 9 inches at low and 20 feet 9 inches at, high water. He was quite certain the majority of the ratepayers were in favor of the site, anil the work ns being carried out. Mr Dickson had told them that this was ons of the best distrie'ts in the colony, if so it deserved a harbor. The meeting was called for the purpose of getting an expression of opinion and he hoped that if it was decided to take a poll they would exert themse.ves to see it carried. They were almost compelled to take the poll, for if they waited till next session they would ba guilty of neglect. They should deal with the matter as business people. There was no proof that the work was not in the right place. It was never intended that when it got out two or three hundred feet it would scour the river out. The work was not properly tried, and would not be until it was carried out for some distance. Even if the river did silt up, they were not improving the river ; they wanted to get accommodation at sea. Mr Seeats : What will Kennedy and E’ans do if you get out far enough? Mr Townley sap! he was convinced that if the work was carried ou t any steamer that came to Gisborne could come alongside. If Sir John Goode's plan turned out well this would turn out batter, as the awkward turns in Cno le's plan were avoided in Mr Thomson's. Sir George Whitmore made a great point of Coode’s plan being departed from, but he could never have considered the present plan In Goode’s plan there were two projections of gOG feet, and the entrance was only 600 feet wide. It was only suitable (or tl)e steamers of ten years ago. He had nothing nmre to do but to ask the ratepayers to express what they desired to do. If the poll was carried it did not say that the £40,0C0 would be expended. There would be an election next February, and they could then bind the members to a certain course. They had either to take the poll or wait till next session, and he would ad visit then; to adopt the former course. Mr Joyce : Yob have' sqid that if £10,090 were expended, 15ft Ijiu ot water would be obtained. How does that oirrespond with the reo.ort which says 13 feet ? Mr Townley : A recent survey was made, and it was found that the river had scoured about 18in or more.

Mr DaLautour said he was there as one whose interests were in the place, and he thought if they were to give' a dispassionate view of the question they must divorce party feelings. If they wished to do good to the district their watchword must be “ unity and progress.” They must give up asking, anddeal with the thing as they found it. The real question was whether they were to progrssj with tho works or to stand still, at any rate till neqt October, and possibly for all time so far as these KOiks were concerned. A great many would like to got aecammqdat|on for ocean steamers, but if they could got what Mr Townley promised, was it not better to taka that than to take nothing, and also to be burdened with an enormous output for taxation for that on which they got’nbthing. li tbay jjad to pay interest on the work whiqh was' qt present, to Mr Crawford had said, a concrete monument, it would be unbearable. They had to judge whether 20 feet at high water, and 15 feet at low water was sufficient. If they thought so it would be wise to take that accommodation. There was the risk of losing their money—but those who were timorous might want to wait till Parliament dH ; something for them, but Mr Graham told them they' had nothing to hope for from Parliament. That being the case it would be foolish to put him in a position next session in which he could not win. They saw the Premier trying to get the Taranaki Harbor debt made a public one, and the Thames people were trying to shift their liabiiitieaon to the Government. There was a feeling in Parliament ttjat the time had come to stop all works which could be Mopped and protest as they woud their opponents would say ” talk what you like about your district we are in time to stop you. As to waiting until they got the accommodation they were to get for the £40,0T0 it

would go a longer way towards getting a colonial harbor than they would with only a concrete monument. It was impossible for the meeting to say whether a poll could be carried. The Board were in the best position to know whether a poll would be successful as they could guage the values of properties, and on them the responsibility would rest, but they could do their best to help the Board carry the poll if it was decided to take it He thought if anything svas going to keep the district btek it wa< the eternal dissensions about trifles. If the pod was taken and lost, it would at any rate, show a strong front, and would strengthen Mr Graham’s hands next year. He moved “ That the co >tiuuance of the harbor works is necessary for the develop ment of the district, and this meeting regrets that any unnecessary restrictions should have been placed upo i the Board, and this meeting further desires to stats that in Its opinion the owners of property are quite prepared to pay any liabilities which th >y have incurred, an i recommend the Board to proceed with the works as in their power.” Mr Maude seconded tho resolution because it met with his thorough sympathy. His idea was that the Board should go on with the work, and not always be getting Amending Acts. He thought they should go on without taking any poll. He believed th >t if the work was done by contract they could get the required depth for £12,000. He thought the Board a perfect lot of lunatics not to go on. They should go on to 900 feet, and see what it would be like, and tnen take the poll. Mr Worgau here caused a little merriment The question was raised whether he was a ratepayer, but he said he was a potaible oue. After a few shots he departed all smiles. Mr Sandlant thought the works should be proceeded with, because by taking a poll they would be simply leading themselves iuto a trap. He put his ideas in the form of an amendment, which was secomled by Mr File.

Mr Joyce sa-d the main question at issue was if they spent the £49,000 would they benefi. by it, or wou d they be simply throwing the money into the sea like the £65,000? [Voice: Question] That was the question. He said they should De very careful about increasing the rate, as they had the experience of other p aces before lhem. He ridiculed some of the statements in the report presented to the ratepayers, instancing rauwhareparae. He said the distrlot had made more piogress previous to the construction of the works than there was now. Strangers had been brought here to labor on the work—toat was the “engineering propensities.’ The men who had to pay fir it could not get a job. Ha would ike to know what would ' ecome of the plant even if the work were finished. As to the blocks they would bo better on dry land than uselessly placed in the sea. He be ieved Mr Thomson was wrong iu saying he was the first to originate the Stony I’oint scheme. If it was true the bar was deepening why were they hearing every day of small vessels being stuck there? The sp t was worse there than formerly. Mr Scents interpolated that it was not, and than both he and Mr Joyce emphatically contradicted each other. Mr Joyce then said it was Mr Seeats’ interest to support the work as he was employed on it. Mr Seeats: I have tO pay the rates as well as Joyce, and Ido not pay a newspaper to back up any lies I broach. Tne Chairman said they must not have any personal remarks. Continuing, Mr Joyce said Captain Kennedy had proved that the river was bad. He said the Board was losing by the arrangement for supplying stone to the Borough Council. Captain Sinclair had said the work was sure to silt up [Voice ; He has never been in the place] Mr BlacKeit had said he would not have approved of ths plau at all had it not gone the whole length, [On reading the report further it was found that Mr Blackett said it would bo of use in fine weather.] If he thought the work would be of use he would bs in favor of it, but in the face of ths opinions he thought it would be foolish to raise a special rate for a useless wo< k. He thought it should be left over until the next session. He only wished that Mr Graham had worked as hard for his district as Sir George Whitmore had for his. Major Porter said it was the want of unity that had given Parliament the handle co do the district such injustice, and he thought they should unite on the question. He would resist spending only £40,000. It was very doubtful whether the present site was a good one, and they should decide whether they would spend the money on a certain site. The Board was much to blame for not having nt the first obtained outside opinions, instead of relying on the Government approval. He did not believe in throwing away what had been done—he thought they should spend £lO,OOO to see if it could not be made of use. Then they should go united and claim the right to spend the money on a useful work. Ho said keep the money and let the Government prosecute the Board—if they spent it at present though, they would be liable to refund it

Mr Graham said Mr Blackett had clearly expressed his opinion that sand would not oome round the end of the work, but he had said he would not have approved of the plan without having a curve to prevent the Southeast swell coining in. Mr Higginson, who had been here aud taken soundings, on the other hand, had been explicitly in favor of the work. The position with regard to the Aetdjavas that the outside distric's would be relieved to the extent of about £250, which would ba £1 in the Borough and 10s in the County on each £lO. He in a great measure reiterated what he bad said at Matawhsro on the previous evening. The Government would certainly give k 9 ibuoh interest on the money as the Bank would, and he thought it was safer for the money to be in the hands of the public Trustee. There could be no doubt that harbor works were urgently required here, as Mr Dickson hid pointed out. Some gentlemen had come to the conclusion by figures that the saving in lighterage would not pay the increased charges, but he thought that a narrow way of looking at the matter. The district had passed through a very depressed period, and he believed would now advance. If the district was to progress at all there should be increased shipping facilities. No matter what tfieir opinions were they should vote for the money being retained in the district. Forty thousand pounds oould not be spent with such advantage on any other place. He hadnot, as stated, schemes of hie own, but he had carefully watched the present work, and believed it wan realising every advantage that was claimed for it. Nothing was to be gained by running counter to the Government,because they were too strong—if possible they should not go tu Earliamqnt at all, Mr Crawford spoke strongly in favor of the ' work going on. Leaving the works as they were would make them a monument of folly, to hold the settlers up to the scorn of everyone passing by and noticing the abandoned works. After listening to Mr Blackett’s eviden.ee the Special Committee had agreed that it was advisable to spend another £40,000 on the works,' He'wqs assured tl|» other day by a gentleman who ought to know fUqt the district would in two years tin;s bs in a position to export two millions of sheep, iu the frozen meat trade.

At this point, after ten o’clock, many peop'e were retiring from the hall, and the Chairman said he would put Mr Sandlant’s amendment, but both moverand seconder had gone home.

! Major garter then moved, ” That this meeting is of opiriibn fh«t it (a cot desirable under the present circumstances td' expend £49,000 on the works ” Mr Gannon here rose to speak. He said there had been frequent reference to what Mr Blackett bad said about the works, but Mr Higginson’s opinion had not yet been read. Mr Higginson had eaid if thq lyqrlj were not continued the money already spent would be only thrown into the sea, and he said there would bs an adequate advantage if the £40,000 were spent. The speaker also quoted from the diver’s evidence which was to the effect that there was a scour going on, and the river was now deeper. He said it was gratifying to find that the.large property holders who’bad to pay the largest amount of rates were the very ones to oome forward and support the prose, cation of tho works. [Mr Joyoe: That is no argument.] Some people did not know what an argument was. Mr Joyce seconded Major Porter’s ameadmentj which was then put. For—Major Porter and Messrs Joyce and Ponsford. There were about 2Q agqinat, numbers not voting either way. '■ ” i ? I The motion was put. About thirty held up their hands in favor of it aud Messrs Joyoe, Worgan, and I’onsfotd against* )