Harbor Matters.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 315, 22 June 1889, Page 2

Harbor Matters.

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sib,—Your evening contemporary, with a gravity that would better become the exposition of a scientific treatise from a i phieal standpoint, has set itself tbe 1 specially lauding the traits and of Mr Ormond. 4c , aa if any man of sens* could not see through thia thin film of white- M wash, and with what object it is undertaken j and then with an adroitness worthy of a i better cause trying (apparently) to persuade the ratepayers that two wrongs make a right Let it be understood that anything they may say will not in any way alter the opinions of those who cannot see anything to admire In tin specially developed faculty of self-in-terest Messrs Ormond and Whitmore so assiduously cultivate. With respect to harbor matters, most ratepayers are pursuaded that both Mr Ormond and Sir George Whitmore are specially legislating for their own interests by seeking to alter the syllabus of the original agreement under which the Harbor Board loan was floated. That no such action will be permitted they may rest assured; it is asunalterab'einfactasinlaw, and legally cannot be provided for by special legislation. However expedient some of the members of the Harbor Board may deem it to be, to allow this question to be settled in egreement with the conditions proposed by Messrs Whitmore and Ormond shows that they have not understood the situation. Ergo, it is with sincere respect that I regard the stand taken by Mr McKenzie, who cannot legally be made to pay harbor rates under the present unsettled condition of harbor affairs, nor can he legally be forced to pay at all, if tbe syllabus of the original agreement is altered. I would respectfully suggest that the ratepayers ot town and country form themselves into a co-operative body, and through Mr McKenzie try the case as a test one, away from any influence that could operate detrimentally, and thus show that they are not going to be made a cat’s paw of for any political schemer to scratch with. To allow matters to proceed in any such form as proposed by some members of the Harbor Board ie alike degrading to the intelligence of town end country ratepayers, and most certainly would establish a precedent (I am persuaded) both Ormond and Whitmore would not be slow to take advantage of, to the cost ot all concerned. In conclusion, as a ratepayer, I may state that I think Mr DeLautour's advice should be received with more oaution, as displaying a want of peroeptivenese that is in iff accord with the gravity of the situation, and as displaying an uncertainty of decision that, In my opintedjk render them very faulty. What has under my notice can be interpreted both ways with equal significance. It te a pity that the intellectual developments of the hemispherical region ot ike celebrum ot some individuate are not in accordance with their pretensions, •-I kill, , J. BaKDUM)