The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 10, 1000. THE HARBOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1804, 10 July 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 10, 1000. THE HARBOR.

Tlio subject of the Harbor is naturally much in evidence just now, and so | loDg as the discussion bo tomperate and to the point, tfio snore light that can bo thrown on tho subject the belter. Certain facte stand out prominently; there can bo no gainsaying them, and there is no need for exaggeration to disclose that a remedy is required.' An influential deputation pf gentlemen interested in commerce is I to wait on the Board this morning to i ask that Mr Marchant have no restrictions placed on him in the making of his report on tho harbor. In view of such a request the Board, as representatives of tho people, can hardly hesitate for a moment. That such a deputation should wait on the Board is a high compliment to Mr Marchant, proving as it does that men who have had opportunities of gauging his success ia other places anticipi'e bn advice with great confidence. It is not often that Gisborne nan arrive at such a state of unanimity whoro an engineering matter is in question, and may we not hope that it is a happy augury of whjtt the outcome will bo ?

hero being confidence in the engi eor, a keou desire for further informs tion, and no exception being taken to lie oxponso, the Board is in duty ound to fall in with the suggestion sut having decidod to opon up the iibjoot of an outer harbor at this tugo—for that must be accoptod as I ho meaning of the suggestion—why lot go still furthor and instruct Mr darchnnt that his scopo includes the ;roator as well as the lesser work ? If die general desire is for a report on die groator work tlioro should bo no hesitation in saying so, and not cast the onus on the engineer to discover what is required of him. The probability is that an engineer who lias givon so much attention to our local harbor matters, who has made himsolf conversant with all the data available, who has had the storm view at an opportune period, and who has made the best use of his time in Gisborne, will be able evon to-day to give an outline of works that he would propose woro he asked to indicate a scheme that would meet all needs for some j years to come. All agree that there must eventually be an outer harbor —a harbor of refuge it was grandiloquently termed in other days; the only question at issue is whether the time is ripe for undertaking a work of that magnitude. We have voiced the opinions of many worthy settlers that the time is not yet ripe ; but if the subject is to be opened up in a practical way, by all means let it be done thoroughly and without dissension. We venture to predict that Mr Marchant will not require weeks in which to prepare reports. Indeed we believe that this morning he. will be able to answer salient questions, such as how to get the beet results from the river harbor in the most economical way; what he would propose in the matter of harbor if the subject were left entirely to him tp do what he | thought best for the district; what it will cost to remedy the effect of the range in the river, and what an outer work to accommodate large vessels would approximately cost. With information of this kind at command from a man of Mr Marchant’s reputation, the important details as to hading ways and means can be subsequently fought out. Possibly, as some of our correspondents have declared, those difficulties will not be as great as they seem. At any rate, the deputation should not leave in doubt the object in view.