Page 6 Advertisements Column 3

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2418, 5 February 1909, Page 6

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE GISBORNE HARBOR DISTRICT. '|'N offering our services on 'the Cl is-. JL borne ilarbq.r Board, we have, decided, at tlie suggestion, of a umn- : - ber of y-our fellow Jlllectors, to express. our views on’ what may be regarded as the most ‘important "question affecting the Harbor .administration., Ist. Wo .arc in favor of 1 ’ a good Outer Harbor, and wo consider the time now opportune to have ' the cpicstion submitted to the Ratepayers for their consideration. 2nd. Wc are in-favor of adhering lo the lines of the now administration of the Board, by which the rate has been avoided, and the wharfage charges payable by the people have been reduced, and to still further continue that .policy when the Outer Harbor is constructed. So that the charges on the shipping will be increased in proportion to the facilities rendered. 3rd. We arc determined to avoid the possibility of re-establishing a permanent rate. 4th. To as far as nossiblo conserve he funds of the Board for an Outer Harbor., hut wc consider the river diould be maintained available for | the present river traffic.

We are, yours obediently, DUNCAN HEPBURN. F. HARRIS. W..L. REES. T. ADAIR. HARBOR BOARD ELECTION. TO THE COUNTY RATEPAYERS. T ADIES AND GENTLEMEN,— I X I hare had the honor of representing the County on the Harbor Board for the past ten yeans, and confidently come before you again as one who has studied your best interests in the past. When last elected, in 1906, I was assured by many of my supporters that .if I used my best endeavors to prevent the then present rate of Jd in the £ for the County from being increased. I would be meeting their wishes satisfactorily. I have fully kept my pledge on this point by joining the progressive party on the Board and abolishing the rate, I hope for good and all, without impairing the finances of the Board. I am a strong advocate for the outer harbor scheme being placed before tlie ratepayers, as I am convinced that this great work can be undertaken without any risk of having to strike a rate, as I am strongly opposed to the Harbor Board ever stinking a rate again, unless for a very pressing or temporary need. The soundness of the progressive policy adopted by a bare majority of only one in the Board is conclusively proved by the fact that for two years we have had no rate to pay. and have enjoyed practically a .reduction of 50 per cent on the Avhnrfages, which, m contrast with the term ending 1906, shows a direct saving to the people, in the last two years of £27,800. It will be seen by a financial statement compiled by Messrs Witty and Coleman, secretary and auditor of the Board, and approved by the Finance Committee and the Board, that if this same policy is followed, we can raise sufficient to expend £350,000 on the outer harbor, as well as pay ofE the ‘balance of £50.000 remaining due of the old Harbor loan of £200,000, and .£4OOO per annum for the administration of the new outer harbor, without any financial strain whatever requiring to bo met by striking rates or any increase in the present wharfages, tlie shipping alone being charged £SOOO per {inmini extra for their increased facilities when the harbor is complete. Trusting that I may merit a continuance of your confidence, and assuring yon of ray best endeavors to work ill and for your interests, I remain, • Yours respectfully. D. HEPBURN.

HARBOR ELECTION. TO THE BOROUGH ELECTORS. J ABIES AND"GENTLEMEN—ti A In again becoming a candidate for your suffrages, I beg to point out that I have held a seat on your Board since May, 1907, when I took office at .a very critical period in the Board’s administration, as the new policy of taking the charges off the people and putting it on the shipping. while, having been adopted by the Board the previous month, awaited fqonfirmation. I recognisted that this new policy depended on which way I gave my vote, as the sitting members of the Board were equally divided on the question. Having examined the new policy very carefully, and being satisfied that it was sound and meant a large monetary saving to the people, I supported it, with the result that whilst the finances of the Board are sound todav. the people of this town and district have been relieved of rates for the past two years, which means a saving of over £20,000 in that time, .as' well as having their wharfages reduced by over £3OOO a year. The soundness of this policy is shown by the fact that a concession of 'over £IOOO a year has been made' to the intercolonial boats on the new tariff without at all interfering in anv way with the sound financial position of the Board. Mr Marchant’s design for an outer harbor has been practically approved of by the greatest modern harbor experts, Sir John Coode and Sons, as suitable for Gisborne. The Harbor Board have been in conflict over the question of placing the proposal before the people, and, although it is shown to be financially sound and not endangering a rate, they stop its being brought to the poll by a. majority of one. _ I feel that I' am justified in assuring you, on the careful estimates of Messrs Witty and T. A. Coleman, that with the # increased shipping charges, which is possible, because Gisborne, with the new shipping tariff, is now one of the cheapest ports of entry in the Dominion for shipping companies, as the increased revenue of the port and the substantial income from Tauwhareparae (the lease of which falls in shortly), will provide ample income to meet the "onoral.administration of the Board and the interest on (lie cost of construction and maintenance of the outer harbor without •anv rate being required. If elected, I will give my _ best endeavors to safeguard your interests, and I trusting to be favored with a continuance of your confidence, ’ I am, : Yours respectfully, F. HARRIS.