OUR WAIROA LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 881, 4 May 1903, Page 3

OUR WAIROA LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Though nearing the winter season, wc arc in the enjoyment of excellent weather, with an occasional mild shower, unaccompanied hy frost or cold. 'The Tangaroa is still “ liarred out,” and business people feel it very much. The new hospital is beginning, under the deft hands of Mr i'eter Wilson, to rear its head from its beautiful site ; hut, like others, llie contractor is - hampered for want of timber, some of which cannot he landed ori the beach. We may hope till Doomsday for a heller state of

things ; hut if the ratepayers do not vote progressively, hope’s star will set under the horizon of despair, and leave us as isolated as we have been for the last 40 years. Matters in re a dairy factory look in a fairly healthy condition. Mr Laing, accompanied by the chief dairy expert .(Mr Macgowan), has been here talking business with those interested, and I lie matter is all hut settled—that a

dairy factory is to he established on the estate of Mr .J. 11. Brown. A meeting is to he called shortly, when addresses will lie delivered by Sir W. Russell (who is showing a living interest in the district), Mr A. L. U. Fraser, and Captain Davidson, anent harbor improvements. Let us hope that unanimity will prevail and a strong front he presented to the Go-

vernment, so as to eapse them to redeem the negligence of the past hy a liberal expenditure in the future. 1 know that some in Gisborne poohpooh the idea of an improved harbor for Wairoa, and instance Gisborne’s recklessness as a warning, but the cases are not analagous. Gisborne’s money was sunk in the sea ; but the present (Air Napier Bell’s) scheme recommends that our money he spent on the inner harbor. The present scheme cannot he condemned till its completion, and an element which lias scarcely ever entered into our calculations—viz., dredging and tidal force—called into play. The thirty or forty feet of residual water near the town must he allowed lo run out by the river-bed being deepened below it, and thus a mighty factor in scour-producing is harnessed to assist us. I do not know, which most to blame—the apathy of Napier or the aloofness of Gisborne to Wairoa. Our sympathies may he with the North, hut our cheapest millet is Napier. Gisborne may have benefited hy its lone hand in railway construction, but the few “ trumps ” held hy Wairoa would undoubtedly have resulted in a “ march.” This is just en passant.