The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, GISBORNE, JULY 24, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1816, 24 July 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, GISBORNE, JULY 24, 1906.

LESSONS OF TBE FLOOD. The recent bittor experiences in the matter of the llooding of the country should have their lessons for future guidance. A peculiar feature of the overflowing of tho Waipaoa was that nearly all old-time traditions were overridden ; a lighter rainfall was required to cause the overllow, and the breaks across were not in the order that might have been expected from previous experience. The melting of the snow of course was responsible to a large extent for the great rush of water, and probably a like experience may not occur for a groat many years,

Rut would it not bo well ns soon as opportunity olTors to givo soino attention to (lie stuto of tho Waiptroa river, os|>i daily through tho growth of w llows in tho bod ? Romo yoars ago a gentleman wrote prodieting that if

this matlor wore not attended to i tho occupiers of tho plain would bo 1 dearly penalisod for tho neglect. It was pointed out that each year tho i bush along tho watershed is being cleared away, and thus tho storage capacity in case of a heavy rainfall is lost, and tho vast body of water comes sweeping down with groat force. This is even more important in regard to snow on the highlands. Directly the thaw sots in the water quickly finds its wny to tho stream, tho volume increasing as tho tributaries pour out thoir waters. With tho country densely clad with bush tho suddon swcop is checked, and a groat doal of water is thus kept in a steady llow, enabling a gradual escape that with opon country would probably moan a d jingo. Tho denudation of the forest must bo accepted as ono of the practical and dosirod efikots of progress. But tho blocking up of tho river itself does not como under any such heading. Tho way in which willows thrive in a river bed is remarkable, and tho necessity for keeping such growth in check should bo ono of the lessons to bo gained from recent experiences. Attention of tho kind might not have prevented tho recent overflow, but it would have enabled a great quantity of wator to escape by the proper channel instead of overflowing rapidly across the plain.

TIIE DOUMA

The high-handed action of tho Czar in diss riving the Douma seems to have come as a great surprise to those most deeply interested, though it has been foretold and the prophecy oft repeated since tho Douma was established. The decisive step taken by the Czar looks like a last desperate attempt at sup- 1 pression, and it is probably tho only course he could take if he meant to refuse concessions. Having made up his mind to defy the reformers, by declining to entertain their demands for reforms, ho hardly had any option left than to make a bold fightforthe retention of his authority while he had the power to do so. His unwisdon in not granting the reasonable demands of tl c poople must be apparent to all. but even those whom he has flouted will think the better of him for seeking to maintain the “ Imperial will ” His policy of vacillation has been an utter failure, mollifying no one, while it caused the Czar to be regarded by his subjects with contempt that would have been openly expressed if anyone dare do so. The Czar has now practically availed himself of the last chance. While he has the military with him he will succeed in over awing the unarmed folk who make so much complaint. The fidelity of the forces will now be put to a sharp test.