GISBORNE HARBOR AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 175, 28 July 1888, Page 2

GISBORNE HARBOR AFFAIRS.

EVASION OF THE HARBORS ACT. (EBOM OUR OWN OOBBESTONDBNT. | Wellington, last night. Several witnesses have been examined by the Committee appointed at Mr Ormond's instance to enquire into the conduct of affairs by the Gieborne Harbor Board. Investigations show that while the Harbors Act limits harbor dues to two shillings per ton, the Gisborne Harbor Board have under the guise of wharfage dues been charging two shillings and sixpence per ton. This is clearly an evasion of the spirit, if not of the letter of the Act, and the Legislature is soon to be asked to amend it in order to prevent a recurrence of this thing. The Committee have not yet considered the report.

Mr James Mills, Manager of the Union Steamship Company, has given evidence before the Committee appointed to enquire into the Gisborne harbor affairs. He said if the wharf was continued so as to give a depth of 13 feet at low water, as now proposed by the Harbor Board, the smaller coastal steamers of the company, such as the Ohau and Australia, would go alongside, but the intercolonial steamers would not; and the result would probably be that they would discontinue calling there. The Gisborne Harbor Board Bill is likely to be severely handled in the Legislative Council, but Mr Graham believes he will pull it through.—N.Z. Herald.