The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1907. THE GISBORNE HARBOR BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2241, 19 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1907. THE GISBORNE HARBOR BILL.

Now thjßit the Giisborne Harbor Bill has passed the third reading in the House of Representatives, and only requires the formal sanction of the Legislative Council,. it becomes the duty of Gisborne residents, as well as those of the Cook County, to ■investigate the scheme thoroughly, as they are lively to be called upon to vote upon the matter within a short- period. It is not likely that the Harbor Board will invito the ratepayers to consider the proposal until the report to be received from Messrs. Joim. Coodo and Sons conies to hand, but this may arrive at anytime now. So soon as it does it will be the duty- of the Board to at once arrange for calling public meetings in various p-arts of the town land counity-, at which poll-s will be taken. There is a good deal to be said for ■and against the proposal, and this is the time for those who lraye views on the subject to make them known. The proposal to borrow an additional sum of £300,000 —not counting the £50,000 which is to bo devoted to paying off the old loan —is a very serious one, particularly as the security given is the right to tax pro-perty-holders in the borough Id per £ on tlie capital value and countyratepayers at half that percentage. Enthusiasts declare that the increased trtide to tlio port will enable the interest on the loan to be paid without calling on the ratepayers for this special tax, but the fact remains that tho liability is provided for, and the public will he taking only a natural p reel ration in examining most carefully the details of the scheme. Personally-, we have every faith in the ability of the people of tho town and country to hear tho necessary- financial burden, and we believe that they owe it to themselves to oblt.iin a harbor at the earliest possible moment, hut it is only right to point out that it lias not yet been conclusively-proved that the scheme at present under consideration is tlio best one possible, and that it can ho carried to completion for the amount stated in the Bill. When wo receive the report of Messrs. John Goode and Sons, confirming or dissenting from. Mr. Marchant’s estimates, we shall he in a bettor position to come to a conclusion on the matter. We have maintained throughout that if an effective harbor can be constructed for £350,000 the expenditure of that sum would prove a most excellent investment for the district, hut we. must he absolutely sure of our ground before incurring this enormous liability. There have been enough mistakes made in the construction o'f harbors -throughout New Zealand, with the result tikiut eonumunities have been saddled with burdens almost heavier than they can, bear,' and in return for which they receive little benefit. Gisborne does not want to add one more to this list of “.white elephants,” hence the utmost precaution is necessary. There"" is no need for faint-heartedness in such a matter. .Once the people have satisfied themselves tih.it the scheme submitted is effective and financially sound, they should not hesitate one moment, hut should boldly- adopt it, confident that the resources of one of the finest localities in.-the Dominion, ns well as tho energy of its people, will thoroughly justify- their enterprise.

Tilio following has been added to ithe tolephono list: —333, C. Taylor, cabinct-anakor, Glndstono-road. Deleted: 333, Taylor and Hodgson. Including learners tho Salvation Army Band now lias 29 members, and tho next monitJiJy concert promises to bo moro successful than any of its predecessors. ■Philip Budge, for whoso arrest a warrant was issued on a cliargo of Qioi'sedstealing, was apprehended at 0-po.tiki. on Saturday last and will appeal- at tho Magistrate’s Court next Monday, 25th inst. A total of 850 entries have been received for tho school sports to bo held ut Wiaerenga-a-hika on Thursday. O'f the total entries 350 are from the Giisborne school, To Kiaraka with 105 being next. Air P. 11. Graham lias received tlie following tenders for tho new offices for tho Cook County Council: —-J. SomorveH £2OOO, Black Bros. £2195, Mjackrell and Oofley £2237, W. Webb and Son £2261, G. Connor £2274, 11. Anderson £2295, Clayton Bros. £2375, G. Smith £2400.

The 2-lsit anniversary of the Salvation Army’s establishment in Gisborne is to be suitably celebrated next week. On Sunday next meetings will bo held all day, and on the following Tuesday a tea will he given, which will bo followed by an instrumental and vocal programme.

Yesterday was an unpleasant day for town residents. A strong wind, with occasional furious gusts, blew throughout tho day- and smothered tho town in clouds of dust. Gladstone road was watered, giving somealleviation to the sliopkepers in the main thoroughfare, but, generallyspeaking, tho conditions provided an eloquent testimony to tlie need for bettor roads.

•Mr Allen Bell, provincial, president for Auckland of tho Farmers’ Union, lias despatched tlie following ■telegram to the Hon Jus. Carroll and other members of Parliament:“Kindly use your influence to have sufficient money placed on the Supplementary Estimates to complete the stock road from Gisborne to Waikato. The work is of the utmost importance to both districts.”

Under tho auspices of tho Tlieosophical Society, Miss Browning, M.A., delivered a lecture on Sundayevening on “Life After Death,” concluding her present series of meetings 'in Gisborne. At tho conclusion, tlio chairman conveyed, thanks to Mr. Whim-ay for his liberal treatment of tho Society, in regard to the use of the hall',- and to the press for reports. Miss Browning is leaving for Auckland next. Saturday, but hopes to return to Gisborne next year.