The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1884. ANOTHER MOVE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 76, 26 February 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1884. ANOTHER MOVE.

Yet another move on the Land Company’s checker-board ! In glowing terms it is set forth that that generous and patriotic body the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company has communicated with the Borough and County Councils, kindly offering “ substantial assistance towards the cost of a bridge to connect Kaiti with Gisborne 1” How generous —how very considerate on the part of this philanthropic company ! Really, the excess of zeal for the public weal on part of the congenial spirits that guide this blessed Company in its peculiar transactions is worthy of much commendation, and we should think that the public of Gisborne would be exceedingly remiss were they not induced to favor the stringpullers with that time-honored decoration a “ leather medal.” The Company, in its generosity, is inclined to give whatever it may cost above £1,500 towards the construction of a bridge over the Waimata River, and we need not point out the excellent connection such a s*ructure would be between the properties owned by the astute landtraders in “ North Gisborne” and Kaiti. The principal advantage to the Company in the carrying out of this latest move on the checker-board would be to divert the coast traffic from Gladstone Road to the thoroughfare through “ Gisborne North,” and thence to Kaiti, and we need not question what is the opinion of the merchants and tradesmen of this town in respect to this latest act of generosity. The main road to the const should, of course, run across the Turanganui River at the site of the present ferry, and it is the duty of the public bodies of this district to act unitedly in effecting that desirable object. It cannot bo expected that—supposing the Land Company’s bridge to be constructed —there would be the slightest chance of getting a Government grant towards the erection of a similar structure at the end of Gladstone Road. The very fact of the generous offer to supplement the Government grant, for the construe tion of a bridge over the Waimata River, most plainly proves that the Land Company has no other aim but that of enhancing tho value of its property, and we do not think that the majority of the members of the public bodies of this district will play into the hands of tho ring that scruples not to attain its object by any scheming move. No doubt, the cost of constructing a bridge where the Land Company wishes it put would be very little over the Government grant, and the astute combination would, of course, expect the County Council to go to the great expense of making a road through its fine property—which is a perfect swamp in winter—to connect with tho projected structure over the Waimata. The County Council has, we should think, quite enough to do with its funds without indulging in a

large outlay, for road-making for the purpose of enhancing the value of the Land Company’s property, and the Borough Council will not, we opine, be inclined to take over “North Gisborne,” with all its load of responsibilities in the road-making and drainage line. Should the two Councils take a favorable view of this movement, it would be wise for the people of Gisborne to call a public meeting and denounce the scheme in the plainest and most decisive terms, taking care to bring the case under the notice of the Government at as early a date as possible.. This is a question of the greatest importance to the tradesmen and property-holders between Peel Street and the Perry, and they should—in the event of the public bodies acting ill-advisedly in the matter —take action at once to frustrate the designs of that most generous combination the “ New Zealand Native Land Settlement Co.” Let us see what benefit this Company has been to Gisborne. On the sale of its property in the Whataupoko Block, .men of small means were induced to invest all their savings in the purchase of sections, and some of the buyers are in this unenviable position—that they will not be able to build on their highprice plots for some time to come—perhaps never; while the Company has reaped a good harvest from its small and scattered allotments. The opening up of this land has, also, had the effect of depreciating the value of properly in Gisborne, and it will be some time before the trade of this township recovers from the effects of the land-purchasing mania. However, the land-purchasers have only themselves to blame ; but we fail to see the reason why the public bodies should be called on to improve private property. The Council meets to-night, and we are inclined to think that body will strongly manifest its determination to adopt no measures which may not be likely to prove advantageous to the inhabitants of this township.