HARBOUR BOARD CHAIRMANSHIP.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 122, 8 May 1912, Page 4

HARBOUR BOARD CHAIRMANSHIP.

We heartily congratulate Mr. A. E. Jull upon his.rctijni unopposed to the Chairmanship of the Harbour Board and the board may also be congratulated upon having him a: the executive head. Mr. Jull is one of the ablest men engaged upon local body work in the Dominion and the tasks taken in hand by him are generally completed with a thoroughness which leaves little room for adverse criticism. On occasion he can deliver a capital “thumb-nail speech” and yesterday he put into a few terse sentences an outline of the board’s policy w’hich shows the desire has been, all along, for sound progress. We can certainly look forward with him to next year being more fruitful and we believe it will. A lot of good “spade work” has been put in the benefit of which is going to be proved despite the jaundiced criticisms ol those who hope for failure. The board has done all in its power to ob tain a thorough investigation of the harbour question and never before has such complete data been, placed without bias or restraint in the hands of the consulting experts. It is probable, from what was shown by the soundings records yesterday, that even the despised patch dredged by the “Waikaririe” is going to turn out a valuable experiment and if the movement which appears to be going on at the patch is recorded with an accompanying statement of weather conditions' w*e shall gain most useful information. The tide level records are also of considerable value in ar riving at definite conclusions and the board has been well-advised in forwarding these reports to the consulting engineers without delay. In connection with the Whare-o-maraenui Syndicate lands the board has made a wise forward step and we feel sure that time will prove the wisdom of pushing on with a scheme of reclamation and improvement. It is possible, by careful management in this direction to build up a splendid asset. "While accepting the* plans of the Public Works Department for the Westshore bridge and embankment it would be well for the board to take precautions not to do anything which will militate against the drainage of the town. Both the Borough Engineer and Mr. George Nelson have reported upon this important work and if the railway were diverted to the place indicated in. Mr. Nelson’s report it would be of great assistance to the town both from the standpoint of drainage and reading facilities and at the same time it would give a straighter line. These are matte'rs .however, which under the able guidance of Ylr. Jull will not be lost sight of.