TARANAKI GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

54

The plan generally approved of for the Harbor is that of Messrs. Balfour and Doyne, opposite the Town of New Plymouth, the first portion of which is complete in itself and provides a Jetty about 1,800 feet in length, with a maximum depth of 25 feet at high water, at which vessels could lie alongside in fine weather. The estimated cost of this portion of the work is £80,000. Owing to the improvements in the mode of constructing Marine works since this plan was made, modifications in the mode of erection which would tend to decrease the cost, might probably be effected without altering the design of the work.

It is proposed that a Harbor Board should be established, to consist of nine members, four to be appointed by the General Government, four by the Provincial Council, and the Superintendent for the time being. Mr. Balfour states in his Report, that the construction of a Harbor at New Plymouth may be viewed as a National work, from the absence of any natural Harbor of Refuge on the whole extent of the West Coast of New Zealand for a distance of 700 nautical miles. This circumstance justifies an appeal to the General Government for assistance, and it is therefore proposed that application should be made to the Government to guarantee a loan for the required works, the amount for the first portion being £100,000, and to hand over to the Board the remaining portion of Mt. Eliot Reserve, after providing for the requirements of the Railway, and also any other General Government Reserves in the Town and neighborhood, not required for other Public purposes.

"That all the unsold Town Sections and Waste Lands seaward of St. Aubyn-street and Gill-street be handed over to the Board.

"That one-third of the gross proceeds received by the Provincial Government for land, be made over to the Board.

"That in the event of the proceeds from this latter source and from any rents accruing to the Board, not being sufficient to meet the Interest and Sinking Fund and any expenses connected with the Board during the progress of the work, the deficiency to be taken from the Principal.

"That if the proceeds from all the before named sources and from the future Harbor and Wharf dues, should be in excess of the amount required for Interest and Sinking Fund, Maintenance Fund, and Contingent Expenses, the surplus to be invested to provide Interest and Sinking Fund for the completion of the entire Harbor as projected by Messrs. Balfour and Doyne, and for other Public Works.

"That the works be let by contract, and that they be executed under the inspection of a competent Resident Marine Engineer, whose services would also be available for the improvement of the Bar Harbors of the Province. And that if a duly qualified person cannot be obtained in the Colony, the General Government should be requested to obtain one from England, at the cost of, and to be defrayed from, the funds of the Board."

During the construction of the first portion of the work, it may be necessary to add the Interest to the Principal, as in the case of Railways; but after this work is completed, the Wharfage and Harbor dues, and the rents from the valuable Harbor Reserves, will materially contribute towards the payment of the Interest and Sinking Fund, leaving the one-third of the Land Fund nearly intact, to complete the entire Harbor projected by Messrs. Balfour and Doyne, and for other Public Works.

The area of the Province is estimated at 2,200,000 acres, of which 200,000 acres have as yet been sold. Assuming that of the remainder one-half will shortly be in the hands of the Government, and that an additional price of 10s per acre will be realised in consequence of the Harbor works; considerably more than the entire cost will accrue from the additional value of the land in consequence of those works. There can be no question, therefore, that the Province is fully justified in carrying out an undertaking which will be of immediate benefit to the District, and will pay for itself in the addition to the Land Fund; and that it is a work of absolute necessity, if the District is to emerge from its present position, and progress at the same rate as other parts of the Colony.

New Plymouth, 19th May, 1874.

RICHD. CHILMAN,
Chairman.