The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 19, 1902.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 419, 19 May 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 19, 1902.

HARBOR AFFAIRS. _ The Harbor Board has had such an expensive experience in regard to its new dredge that 'it is time, in the interests of the public, the members began to ask numerous questions. Practical men, whose opinions are entitled to respect, though we do not set them forth as convincing, declare that as built the dredge would never have Peen a success, apart altogether from its misfortunes. They say, among other: things,. that parts which were of cast iron would never have stood, and that wrought iron should have been stipu-. lated. In other ways, too, it is said trouble may be anticipated owing to the structure of the vessel. It is to be hoped that these predictions will not be Verified, and apparently all tnat can now be done is to make the best of things, and remain cheerful. But anothei subject that is being much commented on in connection with the I: arbor works is the slip in course of construction. Grave doubt as to its success is being expressed, not by the street corner gossips, but by men with practical knowledge. At the last meeting of the Board it was stated that the structure was in accordance with those that had been a success elsewhere. It would be interesting to know where there is such a structure. We are not referring to the shape, but to the way it is made to fit in with the locality Of course, the Engineer having staked his reputation 011 the work the opinions of those who are not Engineers, or who do not openly declare themselves, is largely discounted, but still, there is a good deal of uneasiness among the ratepayers about the work, and it would be well to have plain questions asked about it. One belief is that the rocks on the opposite side of the river wall will not be easily avoided by vessels coming off the slip, and another is that the slip is so situated that the tidal flow will make the handling of vessels awkward.