The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING.. WEDNESDAY, NOV 6, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2230, 6 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. . WEDNESDAY, NOV 6, 1907.

THE BOROUGH ENGINEER’S RESIGNATION.

The chief business at the Borough Council meeting last night was the .resignation of the Engineer, Mr. Harvey Gibbon, which was received and accepted unanimously. There was practically no discussion on the matter, and the public is left entirely in the dnrk as to the causes which actuated the Engineer in taking this step. True, Mr. Gibbon’s letter accompanying liis resignation shows that lie feels very keenly the lack of support given to proposals which ho considers to he absolutely essential to the welfare of the Borough, but it seems peculiar that lie should have chosen to sever Ills connection with the Borough when his views with regard to the supply of metal were at fist being given effect to. Moreover, though stating in strong terms liis opinions upon the very unsatisfactory condition of our roads and the wretched prospect ahead, the Engineer does not give that as Inis reason for resigning. A week ago the Council met to discuss the xiosition of the Engineer, but the Press was excluded. Presumably last night’s resignation was the outcomo of that discussion. If so, the public has a right to know the main facts of the case. It may have been quite proper to thresh the matter out in camera, for there may have beeu some items of really trifling import that might necessarily form part of the discussion, yet which were purely of personal interest, but it is sheer nonsense to take such a viiti.il step as that involving the resignation of the Borough Engineer without giving the ratepayers the slightest inkling as to the underlying cause. Tho Engineer is a public official, whose work and methods should be made known for public criticism, if such be deemed necessary, and we .feel sure that Mr. Gibbon would welcome any publicity given to the true facts of the case. 'As wc have already pointed out, this lidbit of discussing every subject of real public importance behind closed doors is one that can very easily be overdone. The old ill-sounding pli rase “cut and dried” certainly applied to last night’s proceedings, foir Councillors were as “close” .as the proverbial oyster as to the reasons for the action they were taking. As things are now a section of the public will come to the conclusion that the Engineer has been made the victim of some malign influence, and ■that lie has been shamefully treated, while another section will probably conclude: —“Well, lie must have deserved it; there must have hee.il something.” Even though the Council did not think it advisable to openly discuss details of a personal nature, there was every reason why it should have made known 'to the public how it happened that the Engineer’s resignation hud come forward in such a peculiar manner, and why they were accepting it unanimously.

' THE STATE OF OUlt ROADS. Just as Gisborne residents are looking to an abundant supply of water to lay the dust and make our roads .moderately convenient, the old question of a- metal supply is being allowed to slumber. Tile statements accompanying the resignation of the Borough Engineer, however, should revive interest,-as it sec-ms evident that unless some very urgent steps are taken now the next winter will find us in a worse plight—if that be possible —in regard to the condition of our main thoroughfares than over before. To faults that had been found with the shite of the reads under his care, Air. Gibbon very pertinently replied that lie could neither make nor repair roads without stone. 'He added that there is not a single stone available at present for next winter's work, and the proposed 3000 yards to he obtained from l’atutahi will not be sufficient, for Glad-stone-raid. This is, indeed, a serious position, yet the Council, who •seemed more concerned in getting the Engineer's resignation rushed through quietly and without fuss than in tackling other importantmatters, had nothing to say on the point. AVe bad, however, almost forgotten the remarks of Councillor AV'hinray, who, like doubting Thomas of old. is still unconvinced, despite overwhelming testimony of the fact, that there are large quantities of stone at AVaillirere. It is to he .hoped that the Council is really giving this matter more consideration than its silence would suggest.