The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3316, 7 September 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 1911.

Wo are glad to record that a very great deal of interest is being manifested in regard to the affairs of the borough at the present time. In view of the number of important projects winch ace being undertaken, together with the fact that other works <>i seme magnitude are under discussion, it is indeed well that this should be the case. For out own part the most gratifying aspect of matters is the circumstance inat the various muncipal problems which have been awaiting further considers tion are now, it would seem, about to be tackled in a much more decisive manner than was possible whilst the question of party was apparently the main factor in borough affairs. In this connection we were especially pleased to rote that the Council resowed on Tuesday evening to obtain a report from Mr. Metcalfe, of Auckland, not only on the head works restoration scheme, but also cn the other undertakings which are engaging the attention of the borough at this important juncture cf its history. V, In.st not wishing to reflect upon the ability of the borough engineer, there is, we hold, good reason to believe that certain tilings which were agreed to in a spirit of compromise as between the rival contentions of Mr. M . D. Lysnar and [Mr. Paterson might not really have been in the best interests of the borough. Quite apart- from this phase of matters, however, it is certain that Mr. Metcalfe. with, his wide experience in connection with municipal undertakings, is in a rwsiticn to afford the Council valuable opinions on the schemes that i\ has under way. Under the circumstances there is. therefore, every tiling to be gained by the decision cf the Council to obtain such a report from a capable outside engineer like Mr. Metcalfe. But in view cf me fact that the ratepayers may at any time be asked to approve cf the raising of additional loan moneys to complete the works in hand and provide for the carrying out <;f others in contemplation, they will, we feel, agree that nothing in his report- should be kept back from them. It will now be only a few days when .he two vacancies on the Council will be filled, and our i; Citv Fathers” should then hue no time in hurrying along the works which are deemed most urgent. In this regard it will be seen that there should be quite an interesting “battle” for the two vacant seats at the Council table. Altogether no fewer than seven nominations have been- put in. Seeing that the views of all the candidates on the various matters before the Council have net yetbeen disclosed, it is not proposed in this article to discuss the claims of each and all of the aspirants to the confidence of the electors. There have been nominated, it will be noted, two prominent ex-Councillers in Mr. John W. Bright and Mr. John Sheridan. Labour, it will he seen, is represented by two nominees, Mr. A. K. Anderson, who was unsuccessful at the- late bvelcotien. and Mr. 1). W. Coleman. For some days it was thought that the contest might ultimately resolve itself •mto a struggle between the candidates to whom we have just alluded. It then- became known, however, that Mr. lan S. Simoon purposed wooing the suffrages of the electors, and his name now duly appears on the list of candidates. Although Mr. Simsc.n has not been successful at previous borough elections in! this town, he took his fair share of the burden of local body work before lie came hero, at Gore, whore he was for some years the “Chief Magistrate.” Ml:ait will undoubtedly further enhance the interest in the contest will he the nomination of Mr. Wildish, who, it will -be remembered, put up a good fight for a seat on) the Hawke’s Bay Education Board recently. The nomination of Mr. Wong King, we may say, we regard as extraordinary. How it could be said that he would be of material assistance in straightening ut and improving the affairs of the borough we are at a loss to understand. It will be agreed, we think, that nothing would he -gained in proceeding to further discuss this nomination. Interesting as it may appear in same quarters, the nomination will be robbed- of much of its novelty when it is stated on good authority that Mr> Wong King believes that there is a general desire among the ratepayers that he should

Municipal Affairs.

offer -his services' to. the town, in this regard- An outline of the views-of the candidates on the important municipal questions of the day vrß, we feel, be awaited with interest.