[pvertu Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5990, 10 February 1891, Page 2

[pvert u B ay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

GISBORNE, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1891. THE HARBOR PLANS. Tub West Australian Government intend embarking upon harbor improvements at several places on the seaboard, including Freeman tie, Gcraldton, Carnarvon, Ashburton, Cossack, and other ports. This may present a good opportunity for disposing of the Gisborne harbor plant at a .satisfactory figure. At any rate, there would be no harm in communicating with the various Australian Governments to ascertain if appliances for harbor-making are required on tho other side. The Gisborne plant is of most modern construction, eminently adapted to carry out concrete works cheaply and expodif iously. Mr McGregor (late Auckland Harbor Engineer), Mr Higginson (the Government Commissioner who reported on our local Harbor scheme), Mr Chit (Napier Harbor Engineer), and lastly Mr O'Connor (Colonial Marine Engineer), inspected the Gisborne plant, and all have givon tho highest opinion as to its suitability for the work required. The gentlemen named are impartial authorities. We are not aware of the class of harbor works the* West Australian Government has in contemplation, bub if concrete piers are to be constructed, there should be an excellent chance for disposing of the local plant. Machinery of tho kind has generally to bo made to order, and that pecesrtarily involves Jong delay before work can be commenced. Tho Gisborne plant is in good working order, aud as sound as the day ib was landed. Its first-class ! character is vouched for by a number oj

tkteiflosfe engineer* In $W #a<iland, all of whom, as previously stated, are disinterested authorities. Few persons amongst us would like to see the plant sold at a sacrifice ; but there should be little objection to parting with it at a fair price. It is now "eating its head oft'" in the shape of interest charge ; and there is no telling wheu concrete work will bo recommenced here. Mr O'Gonnor has explicitly stated that he would not recommend the carrying out of the present pier any further, and so long as he remains Colonial Marine Engineer he will have tho power of veto. We trust that no sentimental reason will be allowed to stand in the way of the Board endeavoring to sell the plant—of course, keeping in view the obtaining of a fair sum for such firstclass machinery. The Board should look the future squarely in the face, with an earnest attempt to estimate the probabilities. It is jusfc possible the Government may come to the assistance of the Board to construct a small and convenient harbor on the linos laid clown by Mr O'Connor for the utilization of the adopted scheme. For r-hat work the large and costly plant would not be required We are very much afraid that it is a forlorn hope to expect that a harbor will be undertaken on another site for many years to come. There may be an increasing desire to relieve Harbor Boards of their embarrassments and to accord more generous treatment to neglected districts like Poverty Bay ; but we are satisfied that there is no likelihood of any Government proposing a fresh harbor schome at colonial expense for Gisborne or any where else. Parliamentary votes of money would most probably be devoted to opening up the country by roads. There is not the slightest evidence afc present to lead one to believe that harbor-making will be regarded with more favor in the future than now. As for tho ratepayers of Cook County, they would scout tho idea of another Harbor loan with local liability. He would be a bold man who would make such a proposition to them. SIR WILLIAM FITZHERBERT. Although in politics almost up to the day of his death, the name of Sir William Fitzherbert was seldom heard of in late years. Twenty years ago the deceased statesman was a power in the land. He was then in the very front rank of the public men of the colony, none of whom possessed greater intellectual ability. Sir William did good service to the State in his time, but it must be said that he had not the qualities which win the love and respect of large bodies of his fellow-men. Ho was alwuj's regarded with a certain amount of suspicion, though throughout his long political career ho never did anything to cause people to impugn his patriotism. He devoted his great talents to the service of the country, and died full of years aud honors. He has left behind him an unblemished record both in his public and private life. The Wellington people placed great faith in him as a representative. They felt as long as he was their spokesman in the Legislature there was little likelihood of their provincial district being neglected. Sir William earned the name of the " sturdy beggar," which was not at all an offensive term under the system of government which obtained. The districts with tho greatest political influence got the largest share of public expenditure. In work of that kind the stout old Superintendent of Wellington was a host in himself. There never was a member of the New Zealand Parliament his master in debate. Men who are feared are rarely loved, and the measure of distrust entertained of Sir William Fitzherbort was probably owing to his great powers of sarcasm and dissection of an opponent's arguments and motives. Mr Gisborno in his book " New Zealand Statesmen and Rulers " gives a fine, and we believe impartial and correct, sketch of the character and career of the deceased statesman. Mr Gisborne says : — " His chnivcCer was cast in a very different mould, [from that of Sir William Fox.] Although distinguished for mental capacity and for political foresight, he had not tho qualities which instinctively attract the sympathy and gain the go r!-will of others. He was too shut up within himself ; ho neither gave nor asked for confidence. His influence, however, was great. Able and astute, he was the Ulysses of statesmen ; and although, openly, he was not one of the loaders of men, he did much, secretly, to sway their action. JSo one could fail to recognise his intellectual power and the sagacity of his counsel. Moreover, he was versed in political intrigue. There was a mystery about him which added to his influence. Ho was the Great Unknown. Ib cannot be said that he was a silent man, for he was not reticent, in the common sense of the term ; but his words often concealed his thoughts, and even his deeds were not always an index to his purposes. His inner self was unseen and unheard, though from time to time it made itself felt. Often plausible aud persuasive, he was seldon natural. He was a very good actor, but even in his acting ho could not be altogether unartifioial. His speeches, however, rank high a« a public performance. He never tore ' a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the oars of the groundlings,' and few could better assume virtuous indignation, injured innocence ; aud hopeless consternation ; or excel him in effective by-play. A great speech from Sir William Fitzherbort was an intellectual treat. During an exciting and critical debate, while opponents wore violently attacking him, ho would sit immovable, his eyes shut, and every muscle in his face as rigid as if it were cut in marble, apparently asleep. But when ho rose to reply the whole scene was changed. Without a note, and trusting to his memory, which, no doubt from early training, novev failed him on such occasions, ho would answer, point by point, every speech of his opponents, covering them with ridicule and discredit, apparently routing them by force of argument. It was no pleasing prospect to bo followed by Sir William Fitzherberfc. His debating power was wonderful, and ho delighted in oral vivisection. His sarcasm, always iicrid, was at times almost vitriolic. The faults in his speeches wero that he was too wordy, too slow, and too digressive ; but; he was, on tho whole, logical and incisivo ; -and the metaphors, of which he was always fond, were often telling, while his phrases wore well chosen and expressive. Moreover, there were occasional passages* remarkable for their breadth of view find for their philosophical truth. Sir William Fitzherberii held the dogree of Doctor of Medicine, but he never practised in Now Zealand, where ho has lived for morothau forty years. He has held, from t|mo to time, several high colonial and provincial offices. He has also been Speaker in the House of Representatives, and Speaker of the Legislative Council ; the latter office he Rtilj holds. Ah tho Minister in charge of the Treasury he showed largo knowledge of finance ; and when ho was in T2nglsi*icl in 1868 cm a special mission fot« the purpose of consolidating the public debts of New Zealand, and for the settlement of financial claims and counterclaims on tho part of the home country and the colony against each other, he rendered ai'fiafc and good .service. As >\ Speaker of each House of Parliament he has proved himself able and impartial." IMB i)HiMMiWii<m>» iii i ■iiupnin yiTP-— ■ The Harbor Board meets this evening, Mr Booth, R.M., wag sitting to-day as Rncnrcior In the Native Land Court, with Mr Tnta rr amati as Assessor. Mr C. Whitfield, the popular carter, lately in 'he employ of Messrs Graham, Pitt, and "Bennett, has started in business as a general carrier and wood and coal merohvvn.t,

Ta>riU)Mow (Ash Wednesday) uervlces tfili be held at Holy 'Enmity Church at II a.m, and 7.80 p. tri. Messrs Veale and Son have commenced business as pork butchers and pastry cooks in the premises of the old Central Butchery. Mv Fred Faram has been appointed third master of the Napier school in place of Mr Heslin, who is incapacitated through illness At the Native Land Court Judge Sethi>mhh is engaged hearing the application in the Paremata block. The po'-l taken yesterday on the proposal to borrow L2OO for the ctiverside road was curried. I here were 16 votes on the roll of the Whataupoko riding special district, and 1 1 were recorded in favor of the proposal. A copy of the Jauuary number of Full Salvation, an Knglish publication of the Salvation Army, has been left at thh office. The magazine is admirably got up, and contains first class reading matter, including an article on the Army by Mr Stead in the Review of Reviews. A meeting of the committee of the Gisborne Junior Rowing Club will be held this evening at a quarter to seven in the drillshed, in order to select trial fours, and also a crew to represent the club against the P.B.R.C. juniors. At the Salvation Army barracks this evening a monster tea-meeting will be provided, aud the attendance is expected to be very large. At the after meeting the Revs. Ryburn and Ward will deliver addresses. On Thursday evening Adjutant Bishop will deliver an address in the City Rink on General Booth's scheme. The local of yesterday, referring to the lectures of Mr Geo. Aldridge, should have read " Sunday afternoon iectures," instead of " Sunday school lectures." Mr Aldridge's lectures deal with some of the most popular, 1 social, and religious problems that are at present occupying the public mind, and as he is perfectly sincere in;what hejhaa to say, the opportunity for questioning is allowed at the : close of each lecture. Attention is drawn to the Ceylon and Indian Tea Company's new advertisement. 1 These teas are rapidly taking the place of China teas, the exportation from the latter country having fallen off during the last few years to an enormous extent. People who try Ceylon or Indian tea speak highly of i its excellent flavor and strength. Mr W. Adair is the local agent. t The disappearance of the young man Kdward Davis, who was employed at Mr Kempthorne's, Ormond, still remains shroudi ed in mystery, and there is no clue to his ! whereabouts. The cheque which he is said 10 have had in his possession has not turned up, and although the fact of his disappearance 1 has been published in all the papers of the colony, no word has boen received by anyoue of his having been been seen or heard of outside Gisborne. A strict search has been made of every spot in this district where he was likely to be found, but without result. Davis has been missing since January 23rd.