The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Morning. Thursday, December 5, 1889. “HOPE DEFERRED MAKETH THE HEART SICK."

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 386, 5 December 1889, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Morning.

Thursday, December 5, 1889. “HOPE DEFERRED MAKETH THE HEART SICK."

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

Once more we have to inform our readers of a most vexatious delay at the South Pacific works. Last week Mr Weaver completed the boring and cleaning of the hole to the previous depth. _ He then decided that a torpedo must be used, and was desirous to go to Auckland to, get nitroglycerine for that purpose, but it was found that that substance was not kept in stock there ; neither, if it had been, could Mr Weaver have brought it here, for the U.S.S. Co.’s boats would not carry it. On Thursday last the Board of Consultation met Mr Weaver. The prospects of the well were discussed, and Mr Weaver strongly recommended a torpedo. The Directorate in Sydney had already left the decision as to whether a torpedo should be used or not with the Board here, and the local Board, after hearing Mr Weaver’s views, decided that it should. It was then arranged that Mr Weaver should return to the Springs on Monday, with sufficient dynamite, and the shot should be fired on Tuesday. Mr Weaver displayed neither energy nor alacrity, but there was nothing unusual in that, and the local Board had to be content with his apathetic promise that the test should be made on Tuesday—“ if Brown and Smaill made a reel,” was afterwards interjected by Mr Weaver. That was seen to, and Messrs Brown and Smaill undertook that' they would be ready by Saturday. But on Sunday morning, without one word, Mr Weaver is gone by steamer to Auckland. The reason of his going is said to bo known to a few; as it is also

known that he expected, at his own request, to receive some time since a wire calling him there. However, we can leave the ins and outs and the reason why alone. It is quite enough for us to know that at a most critical time he has slipped away again without rhyme or reason, and we think it our drty to the shareholders here and elsewhere, as well as to the general public, who are so largely interested in the result o' the experiment about to have been made, to protest once and for all against this very extraordinary, but by no treans unprecedented, behavior of Mr Weaver. The oil prospects here are simply ruined for the time being by Mr Weaver and his unaccountable actions. Far better that there should be no pretence of boring at all, and no calls to pay on shares ; far better that work should be suspended until the Company can get some one to resume work who will act in earnest, than that such deceptive appearances should be kept up. If Mr Weaver h s at last gone for good it is the very best thing which could happen the shareholders. They will no longer be tempted into paying calls unless the work is proceeding in earnest. We think it is clerrly the duly of the Board of Consultation to represent to the Directorate the manner in which they have been decei 'ed by Mr Weaver and his promises, and to protest most emphatically against the Company (if Mr Weaver ever does return) again employing him. We confess that for some long time, indeed since the ’Frisco trip, we have entirely lost faith in Mr Weaver ; and we did not scruple to say so in the interests of the oil industry. Personally we should be glad to see Mr Weaver, but we sincerely hope the days of his management of the South Pacific well are ended.