GISBORNE NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11187, 8 February 1897, Page 6

GISBORNE NEWS.

[Per Press Association.! GISBORNE, Feb. 6. Twice within the week Gisborne'has been cut off from communication with the outer world, once for nearly three days, the second time for twenty-four hoiyg, and as interruption is becoming of frequent occurrence, . the townspeople are greatly annoyed at the inconvenience and loss thereby caused. The present line, which follows the coast in an exposed position, has suffered from the ravages of the weather for the last twenty years, and is almost beyond repair. The wires are rusting and the posts rotting. The Herald advocates the construction of a line across country to Wairoa, which would be a shorter distance and not so exposed to the weather as the present line. The Gisborne Gas Company, although having reduced the price of gas, pays a dividend of two shillings per share for the year, and carries forward a substantial sum to reserve. By the destruction by fire of a fiveroomed house at Waerougaahika Mrs Urea and her niece narrowly escaped losing their lives. Mrs Uren, who owned the property, loses over ,£2OO, and was not insured. Incendiarism is strongly suspected. The proposal to borrow ,£3OOO with which, plus ,£IOOO given by the Government to construct a bridge across the Waikolm River, was carried.