The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1908. BOROUGH FINANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2251, 24 July 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1908. BOROUGH FINANCE.

The estimates for the construction mid maintenance of tho highways in tho Borough of G sbomo which wore published in these columns on Wed l * nesdav aro presumably the outcome of the Mayor’s pre-election pledge that ho would undertake to provide jtlio town ami suburbs with first-class roads ami without adding a penny to the rates. He also promised an efficient drainage scheme and a few other trifles which need not concern, us in the meantime. The schedule of road work included in the estimates referred to is exceedingly complete, and must havo been perused with: tho utmost satisfaction by hundreds of householders. Not merely the main thoroughfares, hut also the littlo lanes and tracks that form the by-ways of the district are all provided for. Long suffering residents who had been deluded by wily land agents into purchasing residences that w'ere only “just off the main road and would be bound to bo metalled shortly,” but who had long since given up all hope of decent communication with the town during tho present decade, literally danced for joy when they saw their own littlo Street set down for an expenditure of £IOO or £2OO. In imagination they saw their-gunuhoots consigned to the -washhouse fire in the days when patent leather shoes could be safely worn for the weekly visit to town, and simultaneously they rose up and: called the new Mayor “blessed.” Those cautious residents who will not venture out on a dark night, without a lamp or lantern to guide their footsteps from treacherous bogs and open, drains, viewed with remarkable equanimity the prospect of having no further need for. these handy illuininants. Such a picture need hot be lookedupon -as an exaggeration. At the present’ time, although the season lias been an unusually mild one, there are many important roads within the town boundary which, are almost impassable for wheel traffic, whilst the side roads are, almost without exception, in a filthy condition. Footpaths and crossings -are likewise deplorable. There are hundreds of residents who find that after a few hours’ rain the means of ingress.-and ogress from their homes are simply shocking, and what with m-udholes ' and deep drains a journey to town in the dark is by no means without danger. Therefore, if Mr. Lysnar- is able to show tho Council’ at its meeting tonight that the work proposed can bo done as lie promised without the increase of existing rates, he will certainly earn the gratitude of the entire community. The cost of the scheme, namely, £30.000, seems heavy, but when one considers that in the past scarcely any work of a permanent nature lias been attempted, and that the task of providing decent thoroughfares has to bo commenced, it will not appear unduly great for the work that requires to bo done. The question of paying for the scheme is, of course, quite another matter. The Mayor proposes that the money shall he borrowed and, as in most matters, lie does not hesitate to pass on .the -responsibilities of payment to posterity. Some sound arguments can bo advanced for. such a course—though there are two sides oven to this -aspect of tho case—but unfortunately the. whole burden cannot be so passed on. Interest must be paid, and provision must be made for maintaining the roads once they are constructed, -and how this is to he done without increasing the rates is a matter upon which we shall be glad to receive enlightenment. His Worship will doubtless supply the answer at to-night’s meeting.