The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3717, 31 December 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1912.

It lias become customary for the press all the world, over not to allow each year to pass without some reference to its leading features.' On the present occasion we propose, however, only to touch briefly upon the doings of the past 12 months so far as thisr town and district are concerned. There can, we feel, be no question but that Poverty Bay has enjoyed a very full share of the prosperity which 1912 had in store for practically the whole of the Dominion. In the case of "theman on the land” good seasons have, it is pleasing to note, succeeded one another, with the result that stock. : crops and pastures have all done well. What is also of interest in this regard is that much land has in the course of the year, been brought to a stage of appreciably greater productivity. Happily, too, producers of all kinds, and more especially stock-own-ers, are having the advantage of excellent prices. Before this time next year much additional progress is 'almost certain to have to he recorded, for hv then a further section of the Motu line should be in full working : order; the Ngatapa line will, it is to he hoped, he approaching completion if it is not being actually worked : and the district should he distinctly better off in the way of additional roads and bridges. Under all the circumstances it is, of course, not remarkable that the town and the port have likewise made great progress during the closing year. As far as the town itself is concerned the extent of new buildings will, as we pointed -cut a few days ago, constitute quite a record. Many of the structures that have been completed during the past 12 months are undoubtedly a credit to' all concerned: whilst others that are now either partially finished or simply projected, including the new hospital, new fire brigade station, etc., etc., should also he a decided gain to the town in a variety of ways. In addition, too, considerable progress has been made with the construction of various municipal works, although in some directions, and particularly in regard to street improvements, much, it is to lie regretted, yet remains to be desired. As regards the port equal- ! ly satisfactory progress must be re-1 ported .Not only has Gisborne now j the advantage of a ferry service with j Napier, but sc much further good work j has been done by the Maui that much larger vessels than those which could : work tlie port in 1911 can now come i right up to the wharves. Both the )X3rt and the town it is safe to prophesy should witness even greater advancement next year. It is worthy of mention also that Poverty Bay has probably felt the ‘‘'tightness” of me money market less than perhaps any other portion of the Dominion. Where fresh moneys have been sought for. say. speculative ventures it is no doubt the position that advances have in many instances been somewhat hard to obtain: but in all cases where advances hare been required to further legitimate enterprise, no such difficulty it is understood has been experienced locally. Not a year can unhappily go by without such a large district as is Poverty Bay losing quite a number of estimable residents as a result of death. Tlius it comes about that one and all mourn the taking away of many who had contributed ! appreciably to the advancement of j the district and the happiness of the community in general. In their case. ! however, it may be said that it must ‘ have been a source of great pleasure to have been spared sufficiently long to enable them to see that there is every prospect of their most sanguine hopes as regards the future of this important portion" of the Dominion being fulfilled. As for the coining year all that need be again pointed out is that there is every reason to believe tnat it will be even more prosperous for -the Dominion than has been the case, and that Poverty Bay may again witness substantial advancement is to he sincerely hoped. It is then with a full and abiding faith in the bright future of this greatly favored country that we wish each and every one of our numerous readers— A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPER-' OUS NEW YEAR. i

Exit 1912; Enter 1913.