HARBOR BOARD ELECTION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2421, 9 February 1909, Page 6

HARBOR BOARD ELECTION

YESTERDAY’S POLLING

The biennial election of four _members of tlio Gisborne Harbor Hoard was held yesterday. Two (Members'•were' to be elected to represent the Borough, for which seats Messrs J. Townlev, J. Whinray, F. Harris, and W. L. Rees were, nominated, and two members to represent the Counties of Cook, Waiapu, and Waikolm, tor which seats Messrs D •Hepburn, 1. Adair, J. B. Kells, and W. J). b. MacDonald were nominated. The main question at issue in tlio election was whether a -proposal to construct an outer harbor should no placed before the electors immediately, or whether such a proposal should be further delayed. Messrs Adair and Hepburn, candidates- for the County scats, favored submitting tlio pioposal to the electors at once; while Messrs Kells and MacDonald wme against taking immediate steps, the result of the election for the County seats was that Messrs Kells and Mac Donald were returned. Mr. Htpbuin, who has represented the County ioi twelve years and Mr Adair _were refected. The candidates foi the Boi Ink who favored putting 'the proposal before the ratepayers as early as possible were Messrs h . Han and W L. Rees; while -Messrs M him ay and Townley were opposed. .1 he iesuit was that Messrs «ams am Townlev were elected and Mesa* "Whinray and Rees rejected.

BOROUGH RETURNS. The following was the voting for tho Borough representatives:

Mi-. Townley has sat on the Board for the past eight months as a representative of the County, having been e'ected to fill the vacancy caused bv. the. election of Mr. W. D. Lysnar as Mayor of Gisborne. Previous to liis election as a County representative, Mr. Townley bold a scat on the Board as Mayor of Gisborne. COUNTY RETURNS.

Totals m 637 424 407 Eight returns are yet to come t° band, but the result cannot be affec t

Cd The Gisborne Harbor Board is compoSf ffirt follows: The Mayor of Gisboinc • the Borough; sontatives of the in Tt bor Tbe P Te‘ n sonnel“ of the Board AT v W D. iLv-suar (Mayen oi u Awf Harris ami Whim-ay (reprothe .Borough) Messrs .Hem burn and Townley, chapman VO”, n riTw" MatthowSn- “mil V.' Sievwright (appointed ‘''O Goveni^ of theßoan. tatives will be appointed by that date. THE MAYOR’S OPINION.

Speaking to a ‘‘Times;’ ’reporter last evening, the Mayor (Mr W. VLvsnar) said that he regarded the re srilt of the. election as deplorable, and a retrogressive step by the ratepayers against the interests of the district. The number of members of the Board . favorable to an enter harbor mas non ( reduced to three, and if the nenlyelected members remain true to the pledges it wlil unquestionably mean that a rate mill have to be struck. “1 think it is a great pity, said Mr. Lysnar, “that the Board has lost the services' of Mr. Hepburn mho has given valuable service, and mho was always strongly in favor ot-an outer harbor. My own feeling is that the contest mas lost by the progressive party because of the intense jueju4icc of the people against going in •for a loan for an outer harbor-at the present timo, and because tte out fe harbor mas never put before them n L a way that it could be understood. 1 \ sav, without hesitation, that the ic- . suit will prove expensive for the ratei pavers, and that it mill retard settlement'in the district, also that d m poor gratitude to the party that uas instrumental in saving the distnc from rates.” ’ MR. TOWNLEY’S VIEWS. Mr. J. Tomnley, on being asked for Ihis opinion of the result, said he ieigarded the poll as very satisfactory, ias the voting clearly showed the feelling that the people did not want the outer harbor question placed before them at the present time, and they were not prepared to eonsidei tlic" proposal until such time as the Board was able to bring formal d a featured and reliable scheme. MIL F. HARRIS’ VIEWS. VI ion the reporter asked Mr. F. larris wliat ho thought of the lcsult, ir. r Harris replied tha t lie was exremely gratified that the electors or fisborno had again showed their conclence in him. and their appreciation If , 'his work on, the Board. He u as •>rry ’his colleague, Mr. Hepburn, ad been rejected by the Comity ratepayers after twelve years of faithful jrvice, but attributed the fact to the

fear of tlio people in the country that an outer harbor would moan increased rates, and lie was sure that the remit would mean delaying the proposal to build an outer harbor being placed before the electors for at least another two years.

Harris. Townley. cO O O d Warner’s Store 109 93 96 72 Masonic Hall 476 489 396 344 Various County Booths 26 19 22 17 Totals 611 601 oil 433

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