The Harbo Board’s Purity.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 177, 2 August 1888, Page 3

The Harbo Board’s Purity.

SAVEDjy a dog. There being no mei on a t the last Harbor Board meeting, of the-i p to Wellington by the officers of the Boe], Jl r Gannon asked whether it was hot the (tention of the Chairman to make some repq. The Chairman thoiigl it waa not advisable to do so—they had been a 6mitted to a long examination, the definitnutcome of which was not known, further t ln w hat had been published in the papers. Mr Gannon: Don’t youthink they were astonished with what you ha to say ? The Chairman : I think w removed a lot of false impressions. Mr Chambers: I think it ’ortunate'The deputation was summoned, s> that Parliament had some reliable evidene before it. The Chairman said, the meting being over, he might tell them tha they (the Board’s officers) had been exhagtively examined in Wellington, and he bijeved that much good had been done by Seir visit. When they first went down there apeared a general feeling of antagonism agaist them, but he believed that much of that >ias had been removed by the evidence they hd given. From what he had seen he was incined to think the result of their examination lad been to create a very favorable impression. Mr Gannon thought the Board coud con-

gratulate itself on the opportunity offered them, considering the back-handed mocks

they were continually getting, in being sble to reply to the accusations made against it, and to be able to produce before the most inportant assembly of men in the country, data and evidence as to the Board’s position. From time to time, and year after year, not only the members of the Board, but its offi. cers, had been subjected to all sorts of underhand sallies, and had all kinds of slanders thrown at them, without any possible opportunity of retaliating, and when they were summoned before the Legislative Council, he was not aware there had been one single wrong proved against the Board or its officers. Accusations had been made right and left, Mr Higginson had come up and made a Batisfactorj report, the Auditor General had examined the books, and what had been the result?—that that Board had been proved to be the purest public body in New Zealand. The whole thing had been crystallised in every way and no paper with an ounce of respectabiliiy in it could say that one shilling had been diverted to a wrong channel. This might have been said two or three years ago ; it was said now, in a public capacity, after the thing had been completely analysed by a Committee of the two Legislative Houses, and the Board had a right to be proud of its position. Considering the bitter attacks that had been made, and the attacks made by Sir G. Whitmore in his want of knowledge, the Board oould be proud that it had oome out clear, cleansed, and purified in every shape and form. Mr Chambers: We didn't want cleansing and purifying. Mr Gannon: No, but we were enabled to show we were pure. The Chairman said that both Committees had treated them (the witnesses) with courtesy and consideration all through, though they were in both oases manifestly adverse, but on the evidence being taken that opinion thawed down, and so far as he oould judge members changed their minds a good deal. Mr Matthewson said they had not yet got the report of the Lower House. Mr Dickson ; We haven't got the report of the other House.

The Chairman said they had—it had been published in the papers. Mr Dickson said Mr Gannon appeared to be very warm on the matter. He (Mr Dickson) had been a member of the Board since its establisl'" iea t, and he held that they had ultted the gravest error that they, as a Harbor Board, could have done, and that was on account of the site. He had always held that a vessel required water to float it, and now they could get no more than fourtev' feet of water, no matter how they did , George Whitmore was perfectly safe?* ’ s y* n B he had just as much advantage, V coast as Gisborne would hj—- those in the forme- c °uld Ret through the surf, those in Gisborne would have to go through the mud Mr Mills, in v-yu-nnny before the Connell stated that the big vessels wula no; /11 he -'- That geutleman simply repeated one of the former members of the Joard had said—they would build boats to suit the district. The boats were already built. The Chairman thought the boats would be such as would accommodate the district, Mr Matthewson could not see any motive for Mr Gannon's declamation—they must allow the minority to have their own opinions. He honestly disapproved of a great number of things the Board had done, and he was entitled to express his opinion, and so also was Sir G. Whitmore entitled to his.

Mr Gannon: Certainly. The Chairman said these differences had led to such a lot of blackguarding, both inside and out. Mr Gannon believed what every member said was said honestly. Mr Dickson : I have been a member of the Board for a long time, and have never heard any “ blackguarding ” inside. I think this body is conducted in as gentlemanly a way as any other body. . The Chairman : Was there not something about “ cooked” accounts? Mr Dickson : Yes; it was a positive fact and could not be denied. The accounts had to be sent back to the cook. Several members had left the room before the discussion had reached this stage, and just at this point some wag had. put a clever dog on to Mr Gannon’s hat, which in another second would have disappeared had not the owner rushed after the dog, and the meeting then broke up.