The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, July 30, 1891. THE PUBLIC MEETING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 640, 30 July 1891, Page 2

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

Thursday, July 30, 1891. THE PUBLIC MEETING.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy oountry’s. Thy God*3 B and truth’s.

A public meeting is io be held this evening at the City Rink, to enable some consensus of opinion to be obtained as to what steps the ratepayers desire the Harbor Board to take for utilising past expenditure. The importance of the subject ought to ensure a large attendance, There is nothing like having a good healthy interest aroused in these matters. Those who show a lukewarm spirit are more deserving of blame than those who conscientiously take action, if that action does not eventually prove to be satisfactory. We are not aware what issues are to be submitted to the meeting, but they will no doubt bear on that phase of the subject that was dis. cussed at the meeting on Tuesday night. It is plain, from.the proceedings at Tuesday night’s meeting, that the members are opposed to encroachment on funds now locked up by Act of Parliament. So long as that is not done there is no fear of any increase of the burdens which the ratepayers have now to bear, and the question will probably assume the form as to whether the ratepayers approve of getting an advance on plant and material that in other circumstances are not likely to be of any benefit for years to come. Mr Sievwright's faith in the ex-Harbor Engineer’s work is not likely to be shared in by many more than himself. The evidences have been too long manifest for any ordinary individual. On the other hand there is great about the efficacy of Mr O'Connor's scheme for utilisation purposes. Those who urge that this if carried out would give feet of Water need only have tlieif

attention referred to many rose-colored estimates that have previously been submitted to the ratepayers. They also omit to give Mr O'Connor’s ominous hint about dredging. But, as even Mr Matthewson admits, there is no doubt that Mr O’Connor’s scheme will be of temporary benefit, and if the work can be completed on terms that do not incur further taxation, then it is hard to see how anyone can offer objection. If it were a matter of private business no man would lose an opportunity so offered, no matter howopinions might differ on the chances of the ultimate success. If that is the issue to be submitted to the ratepayers there can, it seems to us, be only one answer. The ratepayers have rather to think of themselves than to slave away for the benefit of posterity.