The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOV. 9, 1907. THE PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2233, 9 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOV. 9, 1907. THE PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES.

The facts and figures presented to members of Parliament last evening by the HOll. Air. McGowan, 111 'liis position of Acting-Minister for Public Works, are not particularly attractive. They tell in the plainest of terms ..that something li'ko £2,000,000 is during tho ensuing year, and tluitA the amount is not larger because Parliament did not sanction tlio borrowing of more. W© are further in-, formed, ill case we might have had' our own notions in regard to local requirements, that until the Alain Trunk railway is finished thero will he very little spent on other lines. This might be comforting were it not noticeable that the statement contains 'numbers of votes, for various amounts, to bo spent on little lines throughout the country. In fact, tho old policy of endeavoring to keep the electors in all parts of the Dominion in good humor has again been followed, and the grants to be made include sums all .the way from £SOOO ■to £50,000. 111 dozens of cases the allocations made will not' permit of anything more than the paltriest 'kind of tinkering .with the work that has been commenced. A milo here ■and a mile there will be constructed, the general work going on at such a snail’s pace that rails will almost rust away before they are made available for traffic.

Gisborne appears to have been treated a shade better than some and a good deal worse than many others. We are to have a few thousand pounds spent on roads and bridges, £20,000 on the railway, with a stock office and gaol thrown in. The terms in which our only railway is dismissed are characteristic of the general tone of the Statement, which abounds in excuses for delays. Wherever the Minister can hear of an alternative route to the one originally proposed, he appears to have seized upon the chance with avidity, and after playing one section against the other comes forward with an announcement) that owing to* the "difference of opinion as to which is the better route his surveyors are engaged -in an investigation, and that the work meantime must wait. The excuso in regard to the Lisbon)e-Rotorua line is in this strain. Alternative routes arc hinted at, and wc aro gravely informed that the work Immediately ahead is “not without difficulty.” Hence only a small amount has been voted, merely sufficient to carry the line a few miles, and it is abundantly evident that unless, some unusual pressure can be brought to bear the Poverty Ray district wijl not be adequately opened up for many a long year. However, the amount .has been fixed, anti as the tenders for the Waikolm bridges have been let there should be no-tiling to stop a vigorous prosecution of the work up to the amount allocated. This should certainly be expended before next win-

ter, so that settlers can get the maximum benefit from the vote, and it should be the business of the Bay roll resell ta tires to see that this is done. Leaving local matters for the moment, the chief feature of the Statement is the particulars embodied of the line that is to connect Wellington and Auckland, and it is very welcome news that a through journey by rail is now very nearly possible. The interruption of a short trip by coach will not bc'considercd as a serious objection by -many people, and tRe .traffic over the line should quickly sjesinne substantial proportions.

The annual flower services are to be hold at Holy Trinity to-morrow. Prize money won at tho iSliow may be obtained on implication to Air. .11. AD Porter. At tho Inst meeting of tho Waterside Workers’ Union new rules were adopted. The following additions havo beon made to the Telonhono Exchange: ,11 5 A. Brigilen, Palmerston-road; 90, 11. White, Wliatnupoko. Tho meeting of tlio Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union to havo been hold yesterday fell through for want of a quorum. The meeting of tho Hospital lrustees to havo beon hold at 7.30 o’clock last, night in the Council Chambers, has boon postponed till this evening" The following aro visitors at the Masonic Hotel:-Air. ami 'Mrs. Aloore, Messrs. B. Solo Ino 11, W. J. D illon, Newcomb, Halls, Wall, Dunn, and Alnson.

Tlio ladies of tho town aro thoroughly appreciating tlio pleasures of sea bathing, and yesterday morning about) twenty of them were in tlio surf before break!ast.

The meetings at the. Salvation Army Hall to-morrow will be conducted by Adjutant Dickons, assisted by Captain Church and Lieutenant Calcott and a happy lot of Salvationists.

For tho past fow days tlio Borough employees have been engaged in patching tho footpaths in Gladstone road, and the majority of the rough places have now boon smoothed out.

Tho fish-hawkers were .having a busy time last evening in. tlio town ami suburbs, having received a plentiful supply from 'the steam trawler Beatrice on her arrival yesterday.

Slight- improvement has taken place in 'the condition .of Air. Giaham, who was injured 111 a trap accident on the Taruheru bridge some timo ago, and iwlio still lies at the Hospital in a semi-conscious state.

Yesterday the Sfovwnght Aiemorial Committee met and disbanded, after passing tho balance-sheet, .which included a sum of ton guineas to be handed to tho Cook Aiemorial Committee.

A good deal of caulking still remains to be done on the Ilaiboi Board’s suction sand-pump, but it is expected that this will' bo completed on Tuesday morning next, and that she will commence with the Kaiti reclamation works.

At Wesley Church Rev. C. Griffin will take morning and evening services to-morrow. His subjects are—“A Rich Heritage” and “Wanted.’ The United Bible Class meets in the afternoon. AH. Griffin will conduct sorvico at Ormond in the afternoon.

There was a good musiter at the weekly parade of the Gisborne Rifles last night, the usual work being gone through. On Wednesday Staff Sergeant-Alajor Williams will arrive in .town, and it is probable that a battalion parade will be held on the Friday following.

Tlio decking on the bridge at the Recreation Grounds is becoming rotten, and thero are holes which will prove dangerous to users of the bridge {it night. Tlio Borough Council should give the bridge some attention now, as if it is left much longer the danger tb life and limb will greatly increase.

A basket social was held last evening in His Majesty's Theatre in aid of the United Friendly 'Societies’ Hospital Fund. The floor was in good order, and the music was supplied by Miss Lang (piano) and Air. Von Lubbo Cviolin). An enjoyable evening was siient 'by those present, .though the attendance was small. Rev. Guy Thornton, of Christchurch. Air. Thornton was ifor some years resident in this town, being then teller in the Bank of Australasia. Ho expresses his delight at. once again meeting Iris old friends and surprise at the great growth that is so evident in this town.

At th 0 Alagistrate’s Court yesterday morning, a man, who was charged with driving after dark without lights, stated that it was the “first time lie had ever been out .without a light.” His Worship suggested that the word “out” might be replaced by the word “caught,” but tho dot fendant vehemently denied the suggestion.

A new society, called the Cook County Women's Guild, was formed in Gisborno yesterday, tho object of the society being “to raise humanity, irrespective of creed, or color.” Airs. Townley was elected president, and the members consisted of the disbanded Sievwright Aiemorial Committee. Six new members were elected, and each member was given power to add fresh members.

Some t'nne iago a petition was prepared for signature asking for contiuous attendance at the telephone exchange. The petition was largely signed, and now bears two .hundred rj anies, but a further eigpit-y arie wanted before the request of the petitioners can be granted. In view of tho fact that only la few more names are now' wanted it behoves those interested in the matter to make a special effort to secure signatures.

We must compliment the local telegraph staff upon the excellent way in which the long message -relating (to the Public Works Statement was handled by the office. The “flimsy” came. to.hand in smart time, was well written, and remarkably free from blemish. When it is -considered that •this was practically all extra work, ■the usual quota of other messages having to'lie dealt with, jit conveys a tribute to the local • telegraphists. Among those who took a hand in receiving -the message were -Messrs. Houlihan (the chief). Harrington, Hanley, Bridges, -Miller, Sawyer, and Payne.