THE HARBOR BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2485, 26 April 1909, Page 4

THE HARBOR BOARD.

Yet another proof of the urgent need for improvement in the condition ol the river channel and the entrance thereto was provided yesterday, when the Tuatea had considerable difficulty in igettng to and from the Bay. This should spur on the members of the Harbor Board to take definite action promptly upon the lines of the policy 'which the ratepayers recently sanctioned. Following out this mandate the Board obtained particulars concerning the oniy class of machinery which scorned at all likely to give absolute satisfaction. The, cost was found to bo in the neighborhood of £35,000, but .in view of the efficiency of the machine and the absolute urgency of the work required to bo done, and the fact that the financial burden could reasonably be borne, the members were inclined to make the purchase. Then came fresh information, as a result of which, it appeared that two barges, which it was considered would be necessary auxiliaries to the successful -and economical .working of the dredge, would bring up the total cost to over £40,000. Through some misunderstanding, the cost of these barges came as a surprise to members, and they do-' eided at Friday’s special meeting not to proceed further with the deal in the meantime. As the members meet, today, it is to be Imped they will again take the'-matter into earnest consideration, for it is not one upon which, delay can take place.; it- should bo promptly decided one way or another. If the members consider the dredge on offer to be the most suitable and economical for the purposes of the Board, then the sooner they proceed with its purchase the better, for the earlier will they bo able to provide the river improv emcnl

that 'is so badly needed. The question of barges is 0110 that can bo handled separately; and it seems more than probable that a very favorable fender can be obtained in the Dominion. The excessive cost of tlxo barges is largely due to the fact that they .would have to be shipped on pieces and afterwards rebuilt, besides paying a heavy duty. It -is likely that an inquiry will show that wooden barges, constructed in the Dominion at a comparatively cheap price, will serve the purpose equally well. If so, they could he ordered and made available boforo the dredge could arrive here. Of course there is one strong opponent to the proposal to buy a dredge, namely, Mr. \V. D. Lysnar, but the fact that the Mayor steadfastly opposes any expenditure upon the river channel immediately discounts his opposition. His statement that the- dredge could not work in the channel, but would have to he dug out of the silt, is just as wild an assertion as might have been expected under the circumstances. As though a firm of British engineers would send out a dredge carrying their guarantee to lift 50 tons of papa rock per hour if it could not work in the channel! If the machine cannot do tho work the firm has no claim for payment, vet in face of tins Mr. Lysnar calmly announces from the infinite depths of his engineering wisdom that the dredge mill not bo able to do the work, and will have to be dug out of the silt. It is to be hoped the members will not allow such preposterous statements to ■weigh with them, but that, once satisfied of their grounds, they will proceed with arrangements for the -improvement of the river. The question of the danger that exists at the river entrance should also be considered at to-day s meeting.