IMPRESSIONS OF GISBORNE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3364, 2 November 1911, Page 7

IMPRESSIONS OF GISBORNE

VISIT OF MR. J. CRAIGIE, M.P

MUNICIPAL UNDERTAKINGS DISCUSSED

AW INTERESTING INTERVIEW.

The Mayor of Timaru, Mr J. Craigie, M.P., visited Gisborne yesterday in cider to gather some information regarding municipal matters. Mr Craigie was also chairman of the Timaru iiarbor Board"for about four years, but cuing to liis public duties being too mu cm lor him he relinquished this position. Regarding the tramways Mr Craigie informed a “Times” reporter yesterday that from what .he had seen at Palmerston North, Napier and Gisborne a tram service would be just as success ail in Timaru as in any of the towns mentioned. The public of Timaru wanted trams, and had made up their minds to have them. His visit to Gisborne aas among other things to gather information regarding the storage battery cars that were being obtained for Gisborne. Timaru wanted, to lie guided by the experience Gisborne had gained in connection with these cars. Of course, Timaru was fortunate in regard to power electricity, for they would have a supply laid on from Lake Coleridge equally as soon as it would be provided for Christchurch, and this was the basis they were working on. It was hoped that electricity would be obtained in Timaru from this source in about two years, but in the interim they hoped to commence the tramline. Speaking in regard to Harbor matters, Mr Craigie said that Gisborne conlcl not be compared to Timaru. Here a breakwater had been constructed to a river entrance, while at Timaru the breakwater was constructed from the open beach. _ The position at Gisborne was an engineering problem. Napier was more like Timaru in this respect. At Timaru the shifting shingle had given trouble, but a rubble wall 3000 ft. long had overcome this. A valuable asset had been provided by reclamation, and a portion of this land bad been sold to the Government for £OOOO for railway purposes. Some of the land had also been leased, and was bringing in about £IOOO a year. Gisborne, he noticed, had gone in for a dredge, and ho thought that it was a good tool, and it seemed to be doing effective work. The .dredge in Timaru was 1000 tons, while he was informed the one in Gisborne was only 500 tons, but it cost just as much, if not more. The Maui seemed to him to be built specially for a, special work. They were certainly doing the right thing here in dredging between the moles. He understood there were ambitious schemes for breakwaters in other places, but in liis humble opinion Gisborne should just keep on going as they were, and improving what they had. He thought the Gisborne Harbor Board was working oil good commonsense lines in dredging the river to the depth they were. When he compared the Gisborne Harbor Board’s financial position with that of other Harbor Boards, lie thought they did not owe much. Then they had a fine endowment, which would improve in value as the years went on. The Timaru Board did not have any endowment at all, and he thought Gisborne was very fortunate in this respect. Ti-marn and South Canterbury, said Mr Craigie, had worked in harmony and unity, and this had made for the success of the Timaru harbor. Both tile people in the town and country recognised the great importance of a; harbor, and if a loan was required for improvements or increasing the safety of 'ihe harbor, it could pretty well be earned unanimously. It was recognised !>y the country people that a good harbor improved their land, and gave them facilities for sending their produce Home. “Gisborne has made wonderful mo- ■ gross,” said the visitor, “since 1 was here about six years ago. It is the centre of a great country which is only beginning. The railway has brought about the opening up of new land, am! consequently the district has produced a great deal more. I have heard outside that this is one of the most pi regressive places in the North Island, and the fact that the exports have reached nearly £1,200,000 shows that the country is very productive, and it is only beginning.” In the afternoon Mr Craigie was taken round the various municipal works by the Mayor (Mr W. Pettie), Mr J. Townley and the Borough Engineer. Mr F. _ Hall kindly placed his car at their disposal. Mr Craigie said that he was impressed with the quarries and tlie economic way in which the metal was handled. Ho was pleased with the power house, and thought that the Borough 'authorities were going about the matter in the right way in supplying power and lighting from the one station. “Altogether,” said Mr Craigie in conclusion , “when Gisborne has got its tramways and other municipal ivories completed, it will be a good town, and one with a great future before it.” Mr Craigie left for Timaru last evening, where he will again contest the seat against an Oppositionist, a Labo rite, a Socialist and an Indcpende it.