CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3189, 7 April 1911, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

A HARBOUR WORKS QUERY. [TO THE EDITOR.J Sir, —Might- I suggest to the county candidates for the Harbour 1 Board that they should meet the county ratepayers between now and election day and lay before the ratepayers their views on harbour matters generally, and, in particular. explain how they estimate the cost of an outer harbour at one million pounds?—l am. etc., HERBERT INGRAM. April 6th, 1911. THE HARBOUR QUESTION. [TO THE EDITOR.I Sir. —Will you allow me a space in vour Valuable" paper about our prosperous little town of Gisborne? Well, I wish to write about our harbour and the projects of one. To make an outer harbour in the position Mr W. D. Lvsnar wishes it to be would be a failure, because there is not the stone in or about Gisborne to build it of, and the cost of getting it here would' be a great item. Haying been in bis Majesty’s Royal Engineers and having travelled about the world a bit, I have seen both inner harbours and outer harbours, and I think, at a small cost, you could make one over at Nick’s Head and make a light railway from Gisborne to that -dace and bridge the Big River, and you have a natural harbour and deep "water, also shelter for the shipping. Or if they do not want that, they should build a groyne 240yds farther out than the old one, and build, it on. the American style—that is, on the steel girder system; but to spend anything more on dredging the river entrance is a waste of money and- it will cost thousands! of pounds before they have, finished and then, it will be labour in vain. They have a fine dredger—one of the best built, but it cannot keep the river clean and never will j and the Sooner they think about an improvement [he better and not keep spending and wasting money on the present conditions, as they are doing. Send- your shipping away and then your town is done. What has made all our large English cities? Why, shipping! You must cater for the shipping, and you want quick transit, as time is money with large liners. Get a good harbour and then your town will grow later for our large Home boats. Do not waste any more money on this petty river of ours, because it will never be any good, and I also would like to say that instead of them ! taking the mud away andi dumping it down in the bay, to bs brought back again, - why not drive a few piles along the river embankment on the esplanade and carry it out nearly to low water mark and plant trees ancl small shrubs and sow down with grass. This would also beautify the place and also help to stop that horrible stench that arises from the mud. The Council should do that instead o [spending that £IOOO set aside jif'or the reserve on the Childers road, which will cost 1 double to do and not be any better. Hoping to see our little town go ahead and see the money spent to the best, advantage,—l am, etc., H. LAWRENCE. Gisborne, April 7.