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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1990, 28 January 1907, Page 2

Three men were placed in the police cells on Saturday night for drunkenness. The passengers landed by the 4Vimnicra on Saturday, from South, numbered 150. The Sonoma with the outward ’Frisco mail will not leave Auckland until Saturday, 2nd February, at G p.m. Constable Chisholm, of Gisborne, is to be transferred to Hastings, and the vacancy thus caused will be filled by Constable Davey. of Hastings. Owners are again reminded that acceptances and entries for minor events for the Gisborne Racing Club’s Summer Meeting close with the secretary to-morrow evening. At-a meeting of the executive of the Gisborne Beautifying Association it was resolved to arrange for a concert to enable liabilities to be met, and to enable further work to lie done.

The Holloway season concluded on Saturday night with the production of the sensational drama, “Under Remand,” which proved most successful. The Company proceeded South last night. Mr J. W Cargill and Mr F. C. Cramond, formerly Gisborne managers of the U.S.S. Co., called in at Gisborne on Saturday, Mr Cargill remaining until yesterday. They were cordially welcomed by many old friends. The monthly meeting of tho Harbor Board will be held at 2 this afternoon. As an election takes place before the succeeding meeting, the proceedings will have more than ordinary interest. Mr J. 4V. Witty, the secretary, who was flood-bound at Rotorua, returned home overland on Friday night after a rough journey and some oxciting adventures.

A London correspondent writes: May there not be money in New Zealand eggs? A fresli development in tiro egg trade is now being brought before the notice of the London produce merchants. For some years poultry-farming has been taken 1 up more and more by farmers and others in South Australia, and tho number of eggs produced has increased so much that the- South Australian Government undertook to advance the freight on a. small trial shipment, the producers themselves supplying tho eggs, with tho result that 700 cases of eggs wore shipped by the s.s. Britannia, and arrived in London on Monday last. They were -graded, packed, and chilled at tho Government Produce Export Department. Port Adelaide, none but absolutely fresh laid eggs being accepted. As a result of the care taken to grade and pack, the eggs have arrived, it is declared. in first-class condition. The South‘Australian Government has sent to London a commercial agent, Mr A. E. M. Morton, under whose supervision tho grading and packing of the shipment wore carried out, to see that the eggs are fairly placed upon the market here, and who, in an interview, said it must bo understood that the eggs have not been frozen. They were merely chilled in the temperature proved after careful experiments to be most suitable. Although they have travelled 13,000 miles and have reached London about seven or eight weeks after laying, the consistency of the albumen and the condition 'of the yolks are satisfactory. The eggs will boil, poach, or fry. Sales have been already effected at prices tliat allow of 12s per longjiunclrer to the producers, and this is considered satisfactory. The eggs' could reach London in the winter mouths, when the ordinary supplies of English fresh eggs are scarce,

RAILWAY AND HARBOR. CHAT AVITII A.R AVHYTJB, One of the originators of Gisborne’s share of tho railway system of the colony, Air D. Why to, passed through Gisborne last week on his way hack to Havelock. He had been on a visit to his old home at Abbotslord, a inline that is familiar with all who remember the early agitation for a railway, • and tho time when Mr Whyte descended on our town with mammoth fruits and other evidences of the rich soil and bounteous climate of the Tiniroto portion of the district. His arguments on that score carried conviction to any who had not already boon convinced and stirred up the enthusiasm of all whoso faith in tile district was sound, but who had become listless through prior disappointments. Tho only chance to join issue with Mr AA’liyte was on tlio question of route anil of cost, and oil these points ho was able to speak from long practical experience in the matter of railway construction. Ho was not wedded to any particular route, but claimed that tlio engineering principle of following a river from its outlet to its source was applicable with greater force in tlio matter of trade —that the route should bo chosen that would best servo the trade interests of the district consonant with economical construction and working. But liis strong point was adhesion to the 2ft. gauge.

“Listen to this,” said Mr AY byte, with emphasis, to a Times representative, the speaker at the same time pulling a card from his pocket. “I have hero a statement I have just received from Messrs Common. Skelton anil Co., showing the trade’ of the district. AVo find that the total exports from the colony for the year were 110,664,241 b muton, as compared with 91,768,0991 b in-1905; lamb, 8,216,9141 b, compared with 70,134.17011) in the previous year; beef, 32,048,8861 b, as compared with 17,160,4631 bin 1906. The total exports of meat in 1906 were 230,930.0411 b, as compared with 179,063,2321 b in 1905, 128,039,52211) in 1595, and 33,204,976 lb in 1885. For tlio six months the mutton exported was : —Auckland 116,4041b5, Gisborno 4.944,358, Napier 6,771,594, AVaitara 179,836, AVnnganui 821,115, I’atoa 86,024. AVellington 10 138,264, Picton 124,326, Lyttelton’ 9,611,116, Tiinaru 3.450,495, Oiimaru 160,482, Port Chalmers 279,928, Bluff 2.635,729. Lamb exports: —Auckland 237,06911), Gisborne 225,110, Napier 726,035, AVa itara 57,700, "Wanganui 192,849. Patea 19,188, AVellington 2,119,408, Picton 137,858, Lyttelton 5,125.226, Timuru 2,373,187, Oamaru 153,067, Port Chalmers 318,623, Bluff 1,893.402. Beef: Auckland 2,968,71811), Gisborne 1,578,883, Napier 2,578883 AVaitara 2,253,485, AVanganui 586,’906, Patea 243,922, AVellington 4,033,298, Picton 18,170, Lyttelton •18,406, Timaru 91.740, Port Chalmers 436,817, Bluff 135,727. But the chief feature to which I wish to call attention is the enormous increases that have been taking place in this district. Tlio products of the district have been increasing tenfold.” ‘,‘But what . does your contention load to?”

“Simply this, that those exports could again he increased tenfold with a proper railway system.” “AVoll, you know the work Ms creeping on ” was the remark essayed by way of eliciting Air AVhyto’s views. ’ “A r es, I mean it is creeping along slowlv, hut 1 would like to say this. During tho election campaign Alr Carroll said the sum of £116,000 odd had been spent on the line. Now I am prepared to say that if my advice had been taken in the matter of the 2ft. gauge tho line would ere this, atleast have been connected with Tauranga, and probably have been some distance further on, without costing a penny more. It would have been a profitable undertaking all through, and, that is what we must always look'td as business men. AVhat I say is fi-oin practical experience gained in large works in the Old Country.” Asked how lie could make such a tremendous difference in tho work, Air Whyte said by the narrow gauge. He went to recapitulate the many forcible arguments in favor of the 2ft. gauge, and-to combat the arguments in favor of adhesion to the standard gauge adopted by the colony.

“But you surely do not contend that, the work having progressed so far on the standard gauge it would be wise now to make an alteration P”

“Certainly I do?” replied Air AVliyto, with an emphasis that left no doubt as to his absolute conviction oil the point.

“AVoukl yon have the present rails pulled up?” “No, there would be no need for that. All that would be necessary would bo to lay another rail within the present one, to the 2ft. gauge, and feeders could be thrown out that would tap tho trade of tho district, cause it to multiply tenfold in a few years, and make this one of the grandest districts in the colony. You have tile climate and the soil; there are no great- engineering difficulties to be contended with, and with such a means of development by lines that would be payable, and not a drain on revenue, this district and with it the. town, would rapidly grow in importance. There is another work to which ntontion is required, and that is your harbor. It would require to be carried on to cope with the increasing trade.”

Questioned on this point, Mr Whyte declared himself not a believer in Mr Marcliant’s scheme, which he declared would be a great waste of money, the throwing of thousands into the sea when a better work could be obtained for less money. “In What way?” “Simply by extending the present work on proper lines.” He went on to illustrate the case of the Clyde, and to prophesy that equally large vessels would one day be brought up to discharge and load at the work which is now so often condemned as a “white elephant.” Mr Whyte explained that it was merely a matter of extending the present work in a way that would cope with the southeast drift. He said very'few seemed to have any knowledge of the real trend of these currents, and he supported his arguments with marine and geological facts which ho contended had a great bearing on the subject. In reply to a remark that it would be a great relief to the people of Gisborne and district if they could secure an outer harbor without incurring the enormous expense involved by works talked of, Mr Whyte predicted that the time would come when his views on the matter would bo substantiated. He said that he had gone to great trouble to satisfy himself in regard to the currents.' He had taken views from the hilltops and at the Murowai side had taken his horse in to satisfy himself in that locality.

In concluding the chat Mr Whyte said he still regarded this district as his home, that he had the warmest desire for its welfare, and regretted that in railway and harbor matters what seemed to him such splendid opportunities were lost.