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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2465, 1 April 1909, Page 4

A PROGRESSIVE PROPOSAL. The Gisborne Harbor Board is at present considering the most momentous proposal that has come up for consideration in recent years. It is, briefly, that the Board should purchase—at a cost which cannot in .. the preliminary. negotiations be definitely fixed, but which will almost certainly exceed £3s,ooo—an up-to-date bucket and suction dredge. The amount at first sight seems excessive for a piece of machinery, and secondly it appears too much to expend upon the inner harbor which has by most of us been looked upon as merely a temporary shipping convenience serving our purpose pending the construction of an outer harbor. A closer investigation will, however, demonstrate that the proposition is one deserving of the utmost consideration. !.n the first place it must be borne in mind ..that, even should the people of Gisborne decide within.the next year or two to embark upon an outer harbor, the present channel must for close on ton years remain the solo medium for the discharge of passengers and goods, and with a constantly growing trade the requirements. will ■ obviously be much greater, say, in five years, than they • are to-day. At the present -time the facilities for keeping the channel open for traffic are ridiculously inado- ; qua to; how much more so’, will this be , - Li. '—..A- •. - - A ■ •

the ease in a few years’ time? This was apparently the .view taken by the ratepayers at the recent elections, for their votes may fairly be taken as an indication that the Board, while not relegating u7e outer -harbor scheme to the background, is expected to make a thorough provision for the greater effectiveness of the port we have at present. Bearing this mandate in view, the Board is now considering the question of purchasing a new dredge. The amount seems large, but it is by no means certain that the work of tho port caii be done as effectively or as economically by any less expensive plant. A second hand-dredge could, of course, be obtained at a very much smaller, figure, but the risk in purchasing second-hand machinery, of any kind is notoriously great, and this is very 'markedly the case in respect to dredging machinery. In this branch of manufacture great improvements have been made in recent years, and any dredges that are on tlie market are not only partially worn out hut represent obsolete styles and methods. Moreover, even if a dredge of a fairly late design and in first-class working order were obtained, it is by no means certain that it would do successful work under the conditions existent here. It is obviously a very important point in tho irarchase of a dredge that it shall be entirely suitable to the particular requirements of the locality where it is to operate, and this can only be satisfactorily assured by having a dredge made to order. If the dredge that the Board proposes to bin - will do what is claimed for it, then it will clear the channel of rock and silt to a depth of anything up to 20 feet at low water. It would in a few months’ time provide, ample depth for any of the vessels - at present using the port, and as it would ’dispose of as much in a day as the John Townley can in a fortnight there would be no difficulty in keeping the channel clear. The Board is now seeking a definite guarantee that the dredge will cut papa rock and deal with it, and in the event of the assurance being forthcoming will probably make the purchase, which, under all the circumstances, would, in our opinion, be a wise investment. A point that should be borne in mind is that in the event of this machinery being obtained it is quite on the cards that the dream of some Gisborneites might be realised by its aid.... There are many in the town who, despite the engineering opinions we have had, still cling to the belief that the outer harbor of the future should be a direct extension of the present inner harbor. It the proposed dredge Were here, nothing would he easier thau to put the matter to the test by gradually dredging from the end of the channel out to sea. The plan might prove impracticable, but no harm could be done in giving it a trial. In any case a thoroughly effective dredge, such as the Board now has under offer, seems to provide the only means of giving to shippers and the public the assurance they have a right to expect, namely, that the port will he available for traffic at all times for vessels of a light draught.