Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1151, 19 September 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1882.

If the Gisborne Borough and Cook County Counci 1 8 take into careful considreation the absolutely requisite improvements to the financial and social position of the Poverty Bay District generally, and the Borough of Gisborne in particular, by inducement of settlement ana influx of capital, we feel sure that an important item will be found in the immediate construction of a bridge over the Waimata ; offering, as such a work necessarily would do, immediate and uninterrupted communication with the roads hereafter mentioned, viz. :—East Coast Road to East Cape, and inland to Waimata and Pouawa Blocks. That the construction of this bridge would greatly enhance the value of the properties quoted is undeniable, more especially as muon of the land through which these roads run is about to be offered to public sale by auction, under the auspices of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, at a very short date, Mr Allan McDonald, M.H.R., has, during the past session of Parliament, given much attention to this matter, and is convinced of the desirability of the work : the more so as we should be able to obtain £3 for £1 as Government subsidy to local expenditure. We would aak the Borough and County Councils to give their most undivided attention to this most necessary work, and get under way as quickly as possible. Mr McDonald has touched the hard hearts of the Government in many instances of which we were despairing, and, while w r e regret that we have not yet got half enough out of the Treasury, we cannot but acknowledge that we have been more liberally dealt with this session than has hitherto been the case. The Breakwater question, which has been to our member a harassing and arduous task, seems to have assumed latterly a brighter aspect. The House of Representatives were frightened by the magnitude of Sir John Coode’s schemr in expenditure, but it would appear that if it could be clearly shewn that responsible and good firms or individuals would undertake the prosecution of Mr Davis’s scheme, or any equally moderate one, which would only involve onefourth of Sir John Coode’s proposed expenditure, there would be little difficulty in obtaining the necessary grant of money. We would suggest that tenders be asked for in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and other towns for the execution of the work according to specifications and plan, and the Government be asked for the amount required, such funds to come out of the Harbors Improvement allocation. It certainly seems dear to us that by no other means, unless by entirely private enterprise, can we obtain for Gisborne that invaluable desideratum—a Breakwater. Mr McDonald was successful in getting the Foreehoie business transacted to local satisfaction, and only lost the Waste Lands Board Bill by one vote. If faithful and energetic labor in our service is deserving of any return we certainly think his actions have proved themselves in such wise worthy, and the least we can do is to pay a regardful attention to his advice.