The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, July 16, 1891. HARBOR BOARD’S PLANT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 634, 16 July 1891, Page 2

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

Thursday, July 16, 1891. HARBOR BOARD’S PLANT.

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

The Board decided on Tuesday evening to offer the heavy portion of the plant for sale, at the valuation made by Mr O'Connor. Litigation has been threatened against the members who supported this proposal, but we do not suppose that on calmly thinking the matter over any such action would be taken. The question has been long enough before the ratepayers to give plenty of time for any dissatisfaction being manifested, and if there was any great dissatisfaction, we may be sure that ratepayers who felt that a wrong step was being taken would have given some sign of their convictions by correspondence in the Press, or through one of the many other channels open to them. But there is reason to believe that so far as the bulk of the ratepayers is concerned the action of the Board will be warmly approved of. Members of the Government have acted straightforwardly, and both privately and officially given intimation that they cannot grant the requests made—they will neither support the taking over of the works nor advance money on the plant, and if there were some backstairs influence by which this attitude could be changed the Government would degrade itself in the eyes of those it was favoring, and would be taunted by friend and opponent alike. If a fair price can be got for the machinery the money will be in hand to use as may be then thought fit. It will then be time enough to consider whether Mr O'Connor’s scheme should be entered upon, and instead of having rapidly deteriorating machinery on hand the money can be earning interest to relieve present burdens. Mr Joyce was hardly fair in his comparison of the machinery to a spade or crowbar. It would have been more fair to make comparison that would have introduced mechanism of some description. When the new rate demands go out, we think an answer will quickly be given to any member who thinks that the time has arrived for further experimenting with the funds now locked up by Parliament.

A plan was submitted to the Board, proposing to utilise the present work and give all the facilities that would be got by Coode’s scheme. Mr Ross’ plan is certainly well worthy of consideration, but it would clearly be premature at present to enter upon any work that would increase the burden of rates. The significant feature of the few remarks that were made upon the plan is that Mr Sievwright seemed to think it a well-devised scheme. One time it was the fashion at the Board table to poohpooh anything that did not emanate from an engineer, and Mr Ross was among those who were treated with scant courtesy by those who would not even have Mr Thomson’s plans profaned by the gaze of ordinary ratepayers. If the views of practical men had been listened to earlier in the day the district would probably not be in its present difficulty.