THE OUTER HARBOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2397, 12 January 1909, Page 6

THE OUTER HARBOR.

MR. MARCH ANT’S SCHEME

AIK. LYiSNAR’S -MOTION REJECTED.

The jiropoiad te htiik! an cuter liar hor on the basis of the. .scheme recom ;inended by 31 r. Alarcimnt wrt.Udiseus seel by the Harbor Hoard again yesterday, when a special meeting wa-lio-t.l to consider Mr. \V. I). Lysmirk motion that Mr. Afaroliant’s scheme he placed before the ratepayers. There were present: Messrs -John Town ley (chairman), \V. I). Lysnar I). Hepburn, \V. KeivVvrigjit, Join Clark, I'V II nrris, • J. Whin ray, (' Afatlhewson, and the Hon. Captain Tucker. When a full Board 'was in attend aneo Afr AV. D. L.vsnar moved—“ Tie the necessary steps ho taken to placi heforo i-he ratepayers the proposal tborrow .sneli sums of money as or; allowed by tJieGisborne Harbor Hoard Krnpoweri.il'; Act, 1907, for tbe pur po.se of eonstruet ing an outer bar hor, based on the scheme of Mr. M;»>--ehatit; and that all reports of the Kina nee Committee, together u ith the minority report, and nil the* statement* made by the secretary and treasurer of I be Board be also placed before the ratepayers; such amounts to bo borrowed shall be raised bv instalments as required at tjie discretion of the Board.” In speaking to tbe motion. Air. Lvsnar said the Board bad been considering the outer harbor quite ion since 190 G, when a deputation oT business men requested the Board to deal ■with the question. Afr. Alnrehnut’s report was obtained in 1907 and showed that the town and district could r*njov the luxurv of a deep-water harbor at a cost of a little over £l-1.000 in eight years’ time, and it was quite possible that the extra, charge on the ships wou’d even make up that amount. Jf the money for the work was borrowvl in London tlio* Io?m oonM ho hiised at '1 per cent, 'that bad |,ecu the experience of Auckland Cite, and the advantages were with the Gisborne Harbor Board, which -euulu rate over three counties and the borough. If the Board could, gat the monov at -1 per emit, the town would have C2fX)O a year to the good. The ,seheme was, without question, the most economical and efficient yet placed before the Board, arid did away villi all need for dredging, while giving a. depth of -13 ft-of water. No engineer threw any doubt on the effect of the mole, and the shipping would bo well protected by the breakwater. Tbe distnict bad to go forward, and although there was a’’wavs a little risk in big undertakings, the overseer’s reports showed that tbe work could be carried out for the money, and the estimate was on the safe side.- fie had worded the resolution in ns moderate a manner as possible, nnrl linpcii that the Hoard would allow Air. Aiarcharit’s scheme to go before tbe ratepayers. Ho hoped all members of the Hoard who bad given their pledge to support an outer harbor proposal would vote for the motion so that the whole quest ion should he decided on the vote of the peop'c. For the question was: “Are you willing to trust the ratepayers?” Air. Afatthewxon. in seconding the motion, .void he had always advocated the construction of an outer harbor, and was very glad Air. Lysnar was askiim- that Air. ATarehant's scheme be placed before the ratepayer.* because that would meet oil requirement.* for one hundred years to come and could he carried out without m creasing the rates. The Hon. Captain Tucker said he did not propose to submit any amendment, hut it was premature to submit a scheme to the rater*lyers before the members of the Board -had decided to adopt some plan. The Board was appointed to think for the ratepayers, and lie eoulil not see any .wisdom in recommending, a scheme upon which the Board bad not Conic to any agreement. The Board bad to consider what the cost would be te, the ratepayers arid what return would be obtainable. lie felt eonsidernb e doubt wife! her the larger ocean-going steamers would over use it. Not one steamship company bad promised to use tbe outer harbor if it w.a.s built, and be could not support such an indefinite scheme. He would vote against i ho motion. AL*. Kiev weight said it was nnliiir to put tlits duty of analysing a budget of figures, plans, and details on to the ratepayers, and to ask the ratepayers to tell the Board what to do. The Board should rather make a unanimous recommendation to the ratepayers. The Board bad not yet decided upon site, scheme, or cost of 1 ho outer •harbor. He would vote against the resolution. Afr. flepbu'm said lie did not know what better scheme the Board wanted to put be fere the ratepayers. Surely if onlv one rate in eight yeans was struck the ratepayers would agree to borrow -C 100,000 to build ail outer harbor of LAG acres. Such a harbor would put Gisborne twenty years id load. The Chairman said it was very pleasant to listen to such glowing accounts of future prosperity to be dorived From <io outer lutrbor. J Ik* Board at present was overdrawn lo an amount of £2OOO, and the revenue for the- current half-year bad deer eased when compared with that <>l the pre,vj 0u.4 half-year. How the Hoanl could borrow £400,000 and pay £ 10,(100 on the present loan was' a problem, and until tbo old loan was paid off a, rate would bavo to be struck every year if an outer harbor was built. The inner harbor bad not given the satisfaction, expected. The Board bad rushed into the scheme and had been disappointed. How could tbe Hoard rush inter a scheme for an outer harbor without giving the scheme full consideration ? The Hoard had been told there would be no increase in rates, but Trmaru bad spent over a million of money on an outer harbor and had boon striking rates since 1899. Captain Newton, of the Manuka, had said, “If you build a harbor, build if large.” J.lie same captain had said he had always found the Bav calm enough to land passengers, and that captain called at Gisborne H 7 times. He (the Chairman] understood that an outer harbor would not affect any saving to tbe freezing works, .and there, would be no saving on Home shipments, as Air. Lysnar had said. . Mr. Lysnar: I did not say it. Tlie Customs officer did. The Chairman: He made no such statement. . , . Mr. Lysnar: T. rise to a point of order. He made the statement here at the Board, but for some reason r«-

fused to sign it. The Clmirman: If the scheme is placed before the ratepayers the people will only be misled. The trade of finia.ru and Napier was so much larger that there would be u great deal of discrepancy in the finance of the scheme. The Hoard had not yet decided upon any scheme, but be Oho chairman) favored Air. Reynolds’ scheme. He moved: “That the necessary steps to place an outer harbor scheme before, tbe ratepayers be delayed until tin- Board bad adopted a plan or a scheme, whether it he that of Air. Merchant or Mr. Leslie Reynolds.” Air. Reynolds’ scheme gave more room, and the cost would not he vorv much greater. The Hoard was pledged to do the best tor tbe ratepayers. Air. Lysnar: You are pledged to Mr. Ala reliant’s scheme. The Chairman : Then why did we get: Mr. Reynolds’ reports? .Mr. Lysnar: To prove if there was wrong with Air. A 1 archant’s scheme. . The Chairman: And there was a good deal wrong with it. Mr. Lysnar: You pledged yourself 9> Air. Afarebant’s seheme if your signal ure in the press counts for anything. Afr. .1. Clark/seconded the Chairman’s' motion. Mr. AVhinray said the Hoard could not recommend a problematical scheme to the ratepayers. The cost of upkeep of an outer harbor would be enormous, and he felt sure that as soon as an outer harbor was found necessary tbo Hoard* would rise to the occasion. The time was inopportune for raising n loan, and tbe Board was undecided as te what scheme was Ibe best, and until tlm Board bad decided upon a. scheme' the members should not ask the people to vote. Nobody was more anxious to do the best for the ncoploythan he was. arid in regard to his election' pledges his own pledge was to watch over the interests of Lite ratepayers. Afr. F. Harris said he thanked the “Gisborne Times” for (lie leading article that had boon published, but the paper should go a little further and advocate a change in the constitution of the Board, ft was a foregone conelusion that the motion would not bo carried, and norm* would be while the Board was constituted as at present. Air AVhinra.v was pledged to an outer harbor,yet always voted against any scheme. The ratepayers were tbo proper persons to say whether a scheme should, be adopted or not. ft was for the members to go on Ibe public platform and tell the ratepayers* why they were for or against the scheme. Air. AVhinray: I. hope the press will publish my views. All*. Harris: J hope the reporters will roiiort what you said. Jf the “Times ’ will continue in its advocacy of an outer harbor the question wili be ventilated, and the Board forced to place a seflemo before the people. Afr. J. Clark said he was in favor of the Chairman’s amendment, for he was convinced that if Air. Alarchaut’s scheme was carried out the outer harbor would not he used by the captains of. the larger steamers. He was against. Air. Af arch ant’s scheme. It was probable that within a few years’ time there would be other freezing works on the Coast, and a great portion, of the mutton shipj/cd from Gisborne would be drawn to Wairoa and either ports. A few members of the Board were trying to force the position on the ratepayers. It was all very well for certain members to pat themselves and say “AYe are the progressive parly,” lint tlie-ro would be no progression if the scheme proved a huge failure. iVlr. Ly&n'ir sfiid Ik? had Afr. Winnray’s pub!idied .-tatement that he was in favor of an outer harlior, and read tbe following from an advertisement over the names of Afessrs Whin ray, Hepburn, and Lysnar conjointly: “We are in favor of an outer harbor, which, in addition-to the general accommodation,/must provide for two of the large ocean boats at one time, and we consider that the time is now opportune, to take it- in band.” Mr. Lvsnar also read the following from it manifesto issued by Mr. Townle.v in May last: “As a member of the Board for many years inv views on harbor matters generally no doubt, are well known to you. Suffice it to say now that if elected 1 shall see that Air. Afarchanl’f* scheme with all available information relating thereto is placed before the ratepnyrs at as early a date as possible.” Proceeding, Air. Lysnar said be challenged both Air. Townley and Air. Wh in ray to stand te their pledges, and asked both members te remember their word given to the electors. The Chairman: The Board did not have Afr. Leslie Reynolds’ report at that time. Mr. Lysnar: You said “Trot out the pledges,” and X have trotted them out. and I expect the Chairman to at least keep his pledge. Afr. Lysnar then went on to reply to those members who had opfxjfted his motion. Concluding, Air. Lysnar said be admitted that it was a foregone conclusion _ that the motion would not bo carried. Afr. Harris: T was offered two to one about it up the street. (Laughter.) The Chairman then put the amendment. which briefly was: “That the question of putt-lug before the ratepayers an outer harbor scheme be delayed.” The voting for the amendment was: Tbe Chairman, Messrs J. Clark, Sicvwriglit, Whin ray, and the lion. Cap--tain Tucker. Against: Messrs Lysnar, Harris, Hepburn, and Afattfiowson, Tbo amendment was therefore carried, and the meeting closed. Afr. Lysnar’,s motion, being defeated by the amendment, was not put te the meeting.