The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1884. RECONSTRUCTION OF HARBOR BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 33, 7 January 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1884. RECONSTRUCTION OF HARBOR BOARD.

A slight breeze of late appears to have ruffled the surface of the Gisborne official water, —the element became troubled until a “ chop of a sea” kicked up its peculiar capers, and now a collision is almost inevitable between the barques steered by active members of the public bodies of this district, —unless, indeed, a good pilot be found, without delay, to direct the proper course to be taken by the leaders of the opposing factions. Gisborne lays claim to a Borough Council and a Harbor

Board, both bodies eompowd of the game members, while the aflairg of the district are watched over by a " superior tody”— a veritable County Council. It is not our wish to disparage either of the public bodies, or detract from their usefulness in their several spheres; nevertheless, it comes within our province to draw attention to. the little excitement that has been got up lately by a few disaffected persons, and endeavor to throw oil on the troubled waters. The Borough Council formerly attended to what little business was to be transacted in con. uection with the shipping interests here, and, on the movement tor the formation of a Harbor Board, was deputed by the Government to act also iu the latter capacity. There is no doubt that the Government adopted the cheapest and most effectual mode of dealing with the difficulty, and it would appear that the Borough Council has conducted the business of the port, on the whole, in a creditable manner; but, as is common in small places where two or three public bodies operate at the same time, a kind of jealousy has crept in, or some ulterior motive has induced an agitator or two to endeavor to force certain views " down the throats " of the other members of the public bodies. A motion was brought forward a short time since, in the County Council, that the following letter be sent to the Harbor Board i—- ” Cook County Council Office, ” Gisborne, 18th Deo,, 1883, ” Sib, —I have the honor, by direction of the Council, to respectfully request that the Gisborne Borough Council will recommend to the Government the advisability of amending the Constitution of the Gisborne Harbor Board by making provisions for the representation on that Board of the whole of the settlers in the County, as many works will eventually be undertaken which will affect the County settlers quite as muoh as those resident in the township, and I am directed to assure your Council that this request is not made in any spirit of antagonism to the present constitution of the Board, but as a measure to provide timely representation for all settlers.” Now, taking an unbiassed view of this epistle, we must come to the conclusion that it is one of a rather indefinite character. The proclaimed object of its paternal operators is “ to provide timely representation for all settlers,” and yet we find that some of the members of the present Board have far greater landed interests in the country than in the town. We endorse the opinion of Crs. JoYOEand Tutchen that the County Council should state definitely and distinctly the reason why it wishes the alteration made, and must agree with Cr. Kenny that the public generally are perfectly satisfied with the present Board,— that it is only certain interested individuals who want “ to have a finger in the pie ” that are getting up the agitation. Again, the significant words of his Worship struck straight to the heart of the matter when he said, " From what I hear it is an agitation arising more iu Gisborne itself chan outside, and it is thought that a change would lead to their being on the Hoard personi experienced in nautical matters )” and there is no doubt that this explains the whole cause of Abe fermentation, There has been no one single symptom from the outside public that any change whatever is desirable, and no cause shown by the agitators why their object should be carried out. The Board has at present an endowment, and it is probable that—if the change now being agitated for were effected—a rating clause would be inserted in the Bill, and the whole assistance which the Government now affords the Board will be withdrawn. Under any circumstances, the movement is premature, as the Harbor Board is not yet properly organised and in working order, and cannot carry on its duties efficiently until the grants are made. If any change were made at present, it could have no other effect than that of entailing much additional expense in the working of the Board, which cannot certainly be deemed a desideratum. The Borough Council has assisted and fostered the Harbor Board in every possible way, at much expense and trouble, and now—after the former body has borne the heat and burden of the day—the County Council wishes, apparently, to step in and reap any benefits that may accrue therefrom. The agitation has, it would seem, been got up for ulterior motives, entirely outside the question of public welfare, and there is no truly conscientious person but will condemn the action lately taken to effect a change in the construction of the Gisborne Harbor Board.