THE HARBOR SCHEME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2114, 13 February 1908, Page 2

THE HARBOR SCHEME.

Gisborne folks have at last got a stage further on the vexed question of an Outer Harbor, and in placo of i n Harbor Bill, they aro now ablo to discuss freely, land confidently, the details of a definite scheme. Mr. March ant’s proposals havo /been public property lor sonuv time now, but judgment was property suspended : pending recoil)t of a report from the eminent English firm, Messrs. Coode, ! (S'on, and -Matthews. This is at fast to band, and in its main essentials confirms,-the conclusions arrived at by Mr. Merchant. There are, however some important inspects in which .there appears ito bo a difference of opinion, and the first thing which strikes the layman, is that the English firm lias raised the ostimato of the cost of tbo work by another £70,000. Those .who considered the scheme unduly expensive before, will find in this an additional ground for opposing the harbor proposals. It is certainly ,a big jump from tho figures quoted by Mr Marchant, and it will bo interesting to note his reply to tho criticism thus inferred . Another important suggestion put forward by Messrs Coode and Co., (is that the sito of the proposed harbor be somewhat further east than that suggested by Mr. Merchant. It is claimed that this site would remove any danger that might possibly exist, of vessels being run in rough weather on to tho foul grounds that are in undesirable proximity to .the entrance of tho harbor as outlined in tile original plan. Moreover, it is claimed that- this alternative site will fend itself more readily to future' extensions, than -the one that lias hitherto been Hinder consideration. These aro naturally all matters upon which only experts can give definite information, and the Board has taken a correct course, in deciding to invite Mr Marchant .to express his views upon the report "that has just come to hand. 'The proposal to obtain ta report from another colonial marine engineer also seems a vise move, for the expenditure of so huge a sum of money necessitates the most oarefql scrutiny of the different schemes, and too much information cannot be obtained. In the meantime it is eminently satisfactory that tho English firm has sq fur justified Air, March ant’s opinion, as to declaro that for ,a sum which cannot bo looked upon as unreasonably high, a satisfactory enter harbor can be constructed for Gisborne. That gives a starting point to work -from, the rest being details o-f greater qr less importance. (Due portion of. tho report that scarcely Trtuls as entirely satisfactory is that relating to the anchorage. It has not been made clear that proppr anchorage is available, land Messrs. Coode and Co. draw attention in a somewhat guarded paragraph to the necessity of providing this. No doubt Mr. M archant’s reply will deal with this point. In tho meantime, the {Board is to bo congratulated upon the promptness with which it lias taken the necessary steps to get the proposal in such shape that it can be submitted to tho ratepayers.