The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, OCTOBER 4, 1902.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 538, 4 October 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, OCTOBER 4, 1902.

WEST COAST ANTICIPATIONS. ‘ Our worthy Mayor has large ideas os to the improvement that will yet be made in Gisborne harbor, but his anticipations are altogether outdone by those of Greyinouth. Ap enterprising journal in that important town states : “Of the New Zealand ports, Greyinouth is nearest to Sydney, the distance being 1075 nautical miles. From Melbourne, with the exception of the Bluff, Greymouth is also the nearest port of call. The railway service between Greymouth and Christchurch is now so far completed that the through journey by train and cos' '1 can lie and should be made in one day.” I-laving noted these salieut facts, which are not likely to he, disputed, the writer points out, that in this commercial age any saving of passengers’ time by shortening voyages or quicker dispatch in the matter of miles is of the utmost importance. Passengers and mail matter would be landed 111 the colony fifteen hours earlier by making Greymouth the first porti of call, and would reach Christchurch and Dunedin at least 30 uours sooner than by steamer sailing from Sydney to Wellington direct. And- to do all this, Greymouth's wants are few. We are told : All that Greymouth requires is a powerful tug capable of crossing the bar in any weather and transhipping • passengers and dnaiis from the steamers 111 the roadstead. We are not unduly elated at tne near and certain prospect of our port securing the cream of the Commonwealth trade, and that our natural position and advantages will secure it as a matter of course is. a self-evident fact.” The last sentence caps all the foregoing. <For our part, wc wish our West Coast friends all success, but m'ight £<ive them one word of advice—that they will secure no advantages “ as .a matter of coiu'se.”