The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, OCT. 30, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1918, 30 October 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, OCT. 30, 1906.

These words put into the mouth of Don Alhambra by the comedy writer, and heard with such tuneful effect last . week, were turned to good purpose at 1 the Harbor Board meeting yesterday afternoon by Captain Tucker, who> while emphasising the contention that the peoplo who had to bear the main burden in respect to harbor construe* tion, should have a corresponding influence in deciding the issue, also humorously pointed out how high ran the expectations of some people. The Board could hardly have come to any other conclusion than it did yesterday afternoon in regard to the proposed outer harbor. Having made an arrangement for a detailed report the Board could not wisely have gone back on that decision and varied the instructions. Mr Clark raised some potent points that will need threshing ; cut when the right time comes, but it < is either too late or too soon to go I

iulo tlioni now. They woro j u«t ua aolf ovidont when the instructions wore given to Mr Marcimnt, utid having liven pausod over for tho time being can now only huvo thoir value proporly tostod when Mr Muruhant lots us

know whufc in ilia opinion ie tho beat that can bo done under tho conditions imposed. Tho stops that have boon taken woro chiolly prompted by influential members of tho mercantile community and by thoso people to whom Captain Tucker specially referrod. Tho information supplied will provo of groat valuo in ouabling a final judgment to bo arrived at. Certain points

aro definitely fixed ; tho site, for instance. There can bo no doubt left in anyone’s mind on that point, and it is highly pleasing to note that Mr Marchant has not allowed himself to bo swayed in the matter. Ho states absolutely that there is only tho ono site available under tho conditions sot out, and his stand in this matter will materially help those who aro advoca ting an outer harbor It would noth* fair to criticise tho scheme before the engineer has handed it over as his matured proposal to lay before the ratepayers The best possible scheme will bo objected to by some, who would always fiud a “ shadow of doubt ” on the subject of providing the lunds. White it will be generally acknowledged that tho Board did right in not attempting to dictate to the engineer or to put obstacles in his path, tho preliminary roport will none the less stand good for tho cri stallising of public opinion on the subject; and here comes the opportunity of those who have so persistently agitated for the outer harbor. They have the site question settled, and practically they also have settled the class of work and

the source from which the stone is to be obtained. Now it is desirable that there should be some organisation formed quite apart from the Harbor Board to put the financial side of the question in a clearer light. If this is satisfactorily placed before the ratepayers opposition will soon bo wilted away. But it would be absurd to aseumo that because nearly all the writing has been in favor of an outer harbor there will therefore be no opposition. Everyone favors an outer harbor that will accommodate the large ocean-going vessels —always with the proviso that the magnitude of the work is not more than can he safely borne by the taxpayers. That the district is in a better position to-day to undertake the greater scheme than it was to enter upon that one which was left uncompleted there can be no gainsaying; that the need is greater is also beyond argument, and that an

outer harbor must come sooner or later cannot be questioned. With the scheme now set before us in a prelimi nary report, there should be no haste, but while the details are being fitted to the skeleton the people can deliberate over the whole subject, and by the time the chief report is given the details will be readily grasped and possibly something nearly approaching unanimity can be assured.