The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 31, 1901. DRIFT WOOD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 171, 31 July 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 31, 1901. DRIFT WOOD.

The extraordinary attitude assumed by the Harbor Board in regard to drift wood requires some comment, for it is strange that that body should place an embargo on the gathering of wood that has floated on to the beach. It seems that the Board is stricken with the earth hunger, for this wood'is to be used, we " are told, for tho making up of the beach. The millions of tons of sand that is swept

in is not sufficient to satisfy the craving of the Board; it needs must deprive the people of the right to collect wood on the beach. It is tine that by allowing the sticks to Ji > it will help to mako uj> tho beach. A couple of hundred years hence tho timber deposit will amount to a considerable item, but that will not bo nmch satisfaction to tho present generation which tho Harbor Board is taxing so dearly. All the evidence is that the sand will make up the ground rapidly enough without the Board grasping at the few sticks of beach wood. The ■wood is better put to a useful purpose than being allowed to rot on the beach, and the Board has surely no right to say that tho beautiful promenade is to be blocked with obstacles because of this strange idea of reclamation. The sand is doing the work pretty fast now. It is a pity that the Board should take up such a stand in this matter, hut we are afraid that a night watchman will hayo to be put on to protect the wood if the Board insists on making the taking of it a crime.