The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3279, 26 July 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1911.

There is much of interest to the people

of Gisborne in the advice which Mr. W. Ferguson, C.E., gave

“Co Slowly!’

to the Napier Harbour Board with reference. to their difficulty in the matter of a suitable harbour.As in the case of Gisborne, so at Napier, the big issue, as is well known, is—outer or inner harbour? Whilst Gisborne, however, has only an inner harbour at present, Napier, on the other hand, has not only such a. harbour, but is spending a great deal of money in connection with an outer harbour. In view of his high standing, as l a harbour engineer, much weight will, we feel, attach to anything which Mr. Ferguson may say with *eferemce to undertakings of this nature. To his opinions' there is further an added value, for Mr. Fcrugson is also essentially a shrewd and eminently capable business man. What Mr Fergnson strongly impressed upon the Napier Board was the fact that in'such matters the proper course was to make haste slowly. “Thor© is,” he said, “no need for the Board to rush into the adoption of any scheme until members have before them sufficient data- to satisfy themselves and assist any experts they might employ.” He went on to say that seeing so much money would be involved no matter what scheme was adopted, the Board should first of all satisfy itself by tests as to which proposal was the more feasible and suitable. Surely this must be considered very sound advice? When Mr, Ferguson said the Board should go slowly he also made it quite clear that lie did not mean that they should be niggardly in carrying out the particular tests which lie deemed necessary in ctonnec-

turn with that port. Ho even went «*> far as to suggest the 'expenditure of a few thousands to ascertain the fac .. as regards their port which in his °V^ mon it was essential that the Board s ou have in its possession before it wen even as far as to appoint an engineer for any works which might be decided upon. As Mr. Ferguson said that he was not there to give an engineering opinion, there is no need to outline ms general remarfos on tlie difficulties wi which Napier is faced in this regard. "Do you think,” he was.asked, than it is possible for an engineer to advise us after being here only four or five dayis ” To this query Mr. Ferguson spoke, we think, to the point. L cer tainly do not think so; it wou d pi bably take months!” It may seem to some people that we in Gisborne ia\e already expended quite enough money in obtaining reports, etc., on various harbour projects. For our own part we know that a good deal of data in connection with the port has already been obtained. But is it sufficient to place at the disposal of any engineer the Board might resolve to appoint? e think not. It would, therefore be money verv well spent if the local Board were able to obtain the advice of such a highly skilled harbour expert os Mr. Ferguson on such matters. There is a very valuable lesson in. the advice given by Mr. lergus.m to tie Napic-r Board which, we think, it would be equally well for the local Board to study.