"CASTING MONEY INTO THE SEA."

Inangahua Times, Issue 62, 29 July 1878, Page 2

"CASTING MONEY INTO THE SEA."

From tho subjoined oxtraot it would appear that Sir John Coodo'a sciontilio skill is not quito so infnlliblo on tho subjeot of Harbors na somo peoplo would hnvo ns believe. Tho Jorsoy correspondent of tho Pall Mall Gaaolto says:—* It is rooordod that whon tho Into Prineo Consort visited tho Island of Jorsoy in company with lier Majesty in tho yoir 184Q, ho expressed his surprise thnt tho pooplo of that piaoo should hnvo boon so unwiso as to mako a harbor on dry land, wbioh thoy virtually did by forming it ni that it is perfectly dry at low-lido, with not sufficient depth of wator to fl >at n cork-boat, Tho impliod taunt of Itis Royal Highnoss nppoars to havo boon rathor keenly folt, as sineo Ihat timo por'od plans and suggestions havo boon put forward to oflfoot a romody and wipo away tho ro|>ronoh» Nothing howover, was don 3 till somo six or or seven yonrs ngo, when, after deliberations extending ovor a vory long poriod, tho Slates dotorminod to construct a lowwntor 1 nnding stago on tbo oast, and a break* wator nt tho west of St. Hillior's Harbor, aftor plans by Sir John Coodo, nt nn estimated oost of £282,500— an enormous sura for so small a roturn. Tho works woro oarried on amid considerable difficulties on tbo oast sido. Throo vory sorious broaobos woro mado in tho sea* wall, and Sir John Coodo having roportod on tho impraolibility of carrying out his plan, tho States rosolvod to stop all further proceedings, nnd tho unfinished undertaking on both sides of tho harbor now remains a molnuohly momumcut of tho waste of publio monoy. From tho returns now published, it appears that about £180,000 has boon oxpondod on thoso usoloss works, monoy cast into tho son. But though tho cosily sub»aquoous work is lost to sight it will remain to momory donr for generations to como, Tho nont littio sum of noarly £8000 will bo required to pay intorost on tho monoy borrowod for this profitless work, nnd how enn it bo mot, loaviug out of tho question tho roimbursomont of tho principal, without tho imposition of taxes is difficult to understand. All attompts hithorto to introduoo taxation in nny shapo boyond that on wino and spirits havo signally failed j and tho moro hint of introducing a measure for 3iioh a purposo raisod opposition so strong and florco that nothing but tho foar of nttor bankruptcy will ever induco ncquiosooncc,"