The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUG. 21 1905.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1538, 21 August 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUG. 21 1905.

WAIKOKOPU HARBOR AND_A RAILWAY; The report of the conference held in Wairoa in relation to a railway to Waikokopu, andjthe making of facilities for using the harbor was read with great interest in this district. We are always pleased to hear how our neighbors-are faring, and to look for indications of their having become convinced that, their best prospects lie in seeking closer alliance with Gisborne, which is yet to be the chief town between Wellington and Auckland. The people of Wairoa labor under great disadvantages, and it is a great pity that some of the townsmen should unintentionally seek to increase those disadvantages, by advocating the casting of public money into an abortive river scheme, that will take all the money Wairoa can contribute or borrow, and still be a sink for as many more thousands as can be raised. The sooner the river scheme is dropped, .'the better it will be for Wairoa. One gentleman says, that the loss of a few thousands has enabled the people, to gain valuable experience; but strange to say that gentleman is still an advocate for further expenditure in experimenting, which means: that .the thousands have been absolutely wasted, as far as he is concerned. Therews no - Question that the Wairoa people must look to Waikokopu to enable them to throw off the inconveniences of isolation. Then it comes to: a matter of expense. An expensive railway should not he required to connect with the Waikokopu harbor. A cheaply constructed work could serve the purpose for years to come. As to the harbor .it all seems to be a matter of how much the district can afford to spend, the facilities being in accordance with the money laid out. There is every reasonable prospect of getting good value for all that is done at Waikokopu, while in. regard to the river, .there is just a certain prospect that every pound spent will be twenty shillings thrown away unless of course, the. district is prepared to Spend something like £150,000 on the work. We hope to see those who advocate Waikokopu come out triumphant, because success there is fairly, assured, while tinkering with the river means breaking the back of a fine distriot, that has already sufficient burdens to bear.