OUR HARBOR BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1546, 30 August 1905, Page 2

OUR HARBOR BOARD

(To the Editor Gisborne Times,

Sir, —Wore it not for the liberty of free speech and a free press, it is evident that our publio servants would have a “ hard time.” A member of our Harbor Board, Mr Clark, committed a mistake in making the ungenerous and unmerited remarks I which ha was in his pride of place pleased to apply to a publio servant of the Board (seo Times' report). He, Mr Clark, " thought from the tenor of the report that the Board had a new engineer " Mr Whinray—genial and progressive, deoent Whinray—contended that the harbormaster's action was quite within the lines of his intelligently understood and oomprohended duties. Captain Gumming is a seaman, and as a true Son of the Ocean, I bo loves her passionately still, though he has bade

No more for him shall be unfurled, The oanvas in the gale to swell, The Ocean is no more his world ; Yet thore life’s earliest years be fearless passed, A sea-boy on the high and giddy mast. There oft to choor the midnight hour, The helmsman with a fancy free ; His ditty to the waves would pour, Of Lovo on shore, or, storms at sea. And how the Sea-boy midst the rattling blast., Keeps station on the high and bending mast.

Dear were the sounds, though' rude and I hoarse the source, OE " h&lma-lee,” or “ helm-a-weather To bring the vessel to her course, And keep the sails well filled together, I While on the look-out far his eyes were cast, — A sea-boy on the high and giddy mast, i . As a rato-payer, I thank Mr Wbinray for his manliness in recognising the Harbor Master’s abilities, who still watohesthe changeful aspects and moods of the II Ooean-Maid”—his boyhood’s first love. I Tours etc.,

GEO. HY. WILSON.

[We fail to discover anything in Mr Clark's remarks that could be considered a slight upon any;officer. When closely questioned at the Board by Mr E. J, Chriop, a member who had always urged the removal of the stockyard corner, Mr Napier Bell, in the most ! positive way, condemned such a proposal. ] Now Captain Gumming again makes the ■suggestion, no donbt without Mr Clark's knowledge as to the reply given by Mr I Napier Bell. The jocular remark made j could surely not be construod into I offeneiveueaa to an observant officer,'-Ed. I JIMRS.]