The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1909. THE GISBORNE-MOTU LINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2483, 23 April 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1909. THE GISBORNE-MOTU LINE.

"Though not generally known it is a iact that after the Gisbornc-Motu line has been carried a few miles beyond its present terminus no further mileage will bo open for traffic for at least a couple of years. This is due to the fact that until the. close of 1911 or early in 1912 the Waihuka viaduct will not be completed. Just what this viaduct means to the Gisborne line will he understood when the position is described. The present terminus of the line is at Waikohu, just beyond the Wil.mv Crossings Three miles further on b> a

tunnel which is approaching completion, and for some distance further on so much work has been done that a few months could readily take the completed ITne another four miles beyond Wuikolm. From there on a large amount of “cutting work” has to be done, hut Mr. Armstrong’s little, army of workers could, if necessary, make compar it’voly short work of the four or five miles that stretch between this point and the viaduct. Unfortunately, any portion of this further extension which may be completed will) be of no use until ■ <:■ viaduct is built, by reason of the fact that the lino is inaccessible from the roadway until the Waihuka Valley ; s crossed. Of course, the fact that the viaduct is not completed will not prevent the. laying of the line beyond, and a.s a matter of fact, Mr. Armstrong's" staff is already engaged upon construction past the viaduct site, but at 'east two years will go by before it can be made available for traffic. This means a loss of two years’ revenue and of two years’ convenience to settlors. Not only that, but once the viaduct is completed it will be possible to take materials and supplies for further extensions along the line itself. Under the clrcumstances it will bo understood th.it ail possible effort should be concentrated upon the speedy completion of the viaduct. At present the plans are being prepared in Wellington, and when these are completed tenders will be called for, and a contract let. It is in the initial stages that an effort might be successfully made to hurry on the work. The way of Government Departments is not always the way of a smartly conducted business, and plans have a knack of hanging fire for months unless some Minister suddenly discovers that he wants them issued, in which case they are promptly available. It would not be out of place for the local Railway League and also the Chamber of Commerce to investigate this matter and ascertain if all is being done that can be done to expecliate a work which means so much to the district. If the Hon. .Mr. Carroll could be induced to take the matter in hand there is little doubt that a good deal of valuable time could be saved. At the same time it would be well for tho lion, member to secure some assurance from the Government as to the future of tho line. A. rumor has been freely circulated during the last few months, and so far has not been authoritatively denied, to the effect that the line will not be taken to tho Motu township, but is to bo diverted in the direction of Tahora. Such a diversion would constitute such a manifest injustice that one hesitates to believe the idea could have been serious 1 y entertained, but as the rumor lias become current, an official statement oil the matter would bo both acceptable and imely.:

“A LYSNAR LEAGUE.” The so-called “Progressive League,” which was formed some months ago with many high-sounding and laudable projects for the advancement of the district, has at last come out in its true colors, namely, as a party having for its object the personal advancement of a particular individual. In the evening paper of yesterday's issue the League gravely declares: That, in accordance with the following clauses of their Constitution——i.e., “taking an active interest in all concerns which affect the port, city, and electorates of Gisborne and Bay of Plenty,” they support the candidature of Mr. W. D. Lysnar for the office of Mayor for the ensuing year, and also the following candidates (who are. named) for the new Council. In other words, the so-called Progressive League proclaims itself openly and unashamedly a Lysnar institution, handed together for the purpose of advancing the public interests of that pushful individual, and others who are supposed to he in sympathy with him. Of course, we are expected to assume that Mr. Lysnar has been selected as the League’s candidate because he alone of the two Mayoral candidates can be considered “progressive,” but, in proceeding on shell an assumption, the promoters are giving the public credit for little discernment. The names of the gentlemen v.dio ore also honored with the League’s hall-mark are also presumably to be regarded as Lysnar allies, hut we doubt if all of them will be proud of the distinction that is thus accorded them. At least one of the number objected vigorously to a report that lie had been nominated-by the League, but apparently in this case greatness has been thrust uopn him. There is no reason whatever why a League should not he maintained for the furtherance of Mr. Lvsnar’s political ambitions,, but there is every reason why it should not masquerade under the gujge of a civic institution. Whi’e on" the subject tve ave glad to

note by way of contrast the perfectly proper position taken up by the local Trades and Labor Council, which, having nominated its own representatives for the Council, declines to take up a partisan attitude in connection with the Mayoral contest.