The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1884. POVERTY BAY HARBOR. WORKS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 48, 24 January 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1884. POVERTY BAY HARBOR. WORKS.

Thebe are few subjects of more importance to the locality generally than that of the Poverty Bay harborworks, —on the improvement that it is in the power of the people of this district to effect must depend, in. a great measure, the future success of this port of a vast extent of first-class country ; and we will endeavor to point out the most effective way of carrying out the measures now advocated. It will be admitted, we think, by everyone conversant with the subject that it is highly important a breakwater should be constructed suitable for the protection of vessels of large tonnage—to afford the means of their being loaded in safety, and the only difficulty that arises is as to the ways and means. Of course nothing could be done in this highly important matter without the public bodies of the Cook County being united, and we must premise our remarks by coming to the rational conclusion that they will work together for the public good — for, in fact, the advancement of their own private interests. The question arises, are the public bodies of this County prepared to undertake the cost of construction of necessary and suitable harbor-works—-provided an endowment can be obtained from the Government? There is the means open to them of going into the market, and borrowing a sufficient sum for the work—on good security ; but objections would, most probably, be raised by the ratepayers, if they were called upon to add a small sum to their rates ; therefore, it would, we think, be wise for ths public bodies of this district to adopt some other means for effecting the object they should have in view’, The better course would be for the public bodies to unite and guarantee a portion of their revenues annually towards paying the interest of money to be borrowed, and this, combined with the returns from a Government endowment for harbor-works—which there should be no difficulty in obtaining—would assuredly induce a syndicate to undertake the necessary harbor-works. Say that the Harbor Board—to be reconstructed so as to represent all parts of the County—agreed to enter into arrangements with a syndicate who souid undertake the construction of a suitable breakwater and the remunerative work of reclamation between the Boat Harbor rocks, giving the latter body control over the property for a period of twenty years, there would not, we rest assured, be any difficulty in getting the work undertaken. Of course, the syndicate would guarantee to raise the capital and meet every expense in connection with necessary repairs, as well as the construction, on the condition of receiving all the harbor dues, &c. ; but the Harbor Board should reserve the right of paying off, at any time, the amount expended on the works, as well as the accumulated interest thereon. By the adoption of this course there would be no necessity to increase the rates in the district, while the settlers here would reap the benefit of the improvements made in the harbor, and this should be an incentive to all the residents, as well as to those persons interested in the prosperity of Poverty Bay, to act unitedly in strenuous efforts to carry out the measures we now advocate the adoption of. It has, we think, been estimated that a suitable breakwater would cost from £lOO,OOO to £150,000 —that is, including - the work of reclamation, which could be made to build up a very valuable property, and there

should not be the slightest difficulty in getting a syndicate to undertake to raise ills money and carry ou the work, Situated as Gisborne is—in the centre of a vast district, and having unquestionable prospects of important industries increasing and springing up here —besides being the port of a county in which there is about half a-million acres of Crown lands for settlement —no locality in the Colony can be found to which capitalists could look for a safer investment of their money. When we find a place like Timaru, which is connected by rail with the ports of Lyttelton and Port Chalmers, capable of underI taking the construction of an expen ! site breakwater,, there is not the slightest reason why the people of Poverty Bay should not set on foot a similar movement. Here Nature has done her handiwork p’n the forma; ion of a fine bay, which could be protected at a comparatively small cost, so that a large fleet of vessels might discharge and take in cargoes in safety. As to future trade prospects, there is a certainty that Poverty Bay, which could be made the only harbor of importance between Wellington and Auckland, must command in a few years a most extensive commercial intercourse—not only with the different ports of this Colony; but with the Home country direct, —that is, provided our influential settlers “take Time by the forelock,” and act unitedly in making strenuous efforts to get harbor-works carried out here as speedily as possible. There is the export of wool, grass-seed, sheep, cattle, horses, and, it may be anticipated, frozen meat to point to as inducements for capitalists to undertake the construction of a breakwater and other necessary work in this harbor ; and our settlors should bear in mind that every new work for the accommodation of shipping here must enhance the value of their properties ; while, by adopting the course we suggest, the ratepayers would not be called on to boar any extra taxation. Shall it, then, be said that the leading men of this district will refuse to act unitedly in supporting a movement which could not but have a tendency to considerably increase the value of their properties? We trust not; but that, on the contrary, all feelings of petty jealousy and distrust will be cast aside, while a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether is given to successfully carry out the necessary works in Poverty Bay Harbor,