Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, OOTOBEB 29,1897. GROYNE EXTENSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8052, 29 October 1897, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, OOTOBEB 29, 1897. GROYNE EXTENSION.

The Harbor Board very properly resented the interference of the Marine Department with their plans for groyne extension. These plans, which have been based upon the engineering advice of Messrs Bell ami O'Connor, and upon what members of the Board must all recognise as the necessities of the case, provide for an extension of the groyne on the western side of tho river by 500 ft. The Marine Department, to whom the plans have to be sent for official sanction, J forwarded a curt message stating that the j Government were advised that the groyne i should not be extended 500 ft, but no objec- ] tion would be offered to an extejisicm of j 300 ft. Who are the Government's advisers, may we ask ? None of the officials of the Marine Department have been here to make j an inspection of the requirements of the port, and how could they make a recommendation of the sort without inspection ? It seems more likely that some backstairs influence has been at work, and that the Government have been listening to the advice of some local amateur engineer, though who he can be and what can be the reasons for attempting to thwart the efforts of the Board to make a good inner harbor at this port we fail to perceive. At any rate, the action of tho Government was a gratuitous piece of interference, totally uncalled for, and the Board will be very unwise to submit to it. Surely in a small work of this nature, which is not being undertaken without the advice of skilled engineers first being obtained, they may lie trusted to do what is best for the port. Both Mr O'Connor and Mr Napier Bfell gave the opinion that the sand-drift would not be effectually checker) un.til the groyne was carried out into deep water, and probably not until it wns brought into line with the end of the breakwater, so that the sweep nf the sea round its end might keep the sand back, and the experience of the last three or four years, during which the sand lias gradually been piling up at the back of tho wait, shows clearly that something more than a 300 ft extension, which would barely curry tho groyne past the present sandbank, is necessary. Parliament has given tho Board authority to spend what money is required in carrying out this work, and why the 6'ovecnment should now step in and interfere is something we cannot understand. It seems to be only another indication that they are inclined not to help, but to throw every possible obstacle in the way of the progress of the district, ihc loss of time that is taking place over this objection to the plans is much to bo regretted. As members pointed out yesterday, tho position of the port is far from satisfactory. Lighters cannot get in aiu i , out at low tide, and large schooners have to be lightened of a considerable portion of their cargo. The heavy summer traffic is now upon us, and people cannot afford tl'ie" delays consequent upon cargo having to wait for the tide. If the groyne wero pushed on and dredging resumed— dredging will be of little use without the groyne to keep the sand back— we should soon have a cood inner harbor navigable at any state of the tide ; if there is much further delay the position may get worse and th e h, lr ) }or become almost blocked up at one of the busiest seasons of the year.

A private telegram received from Wellington this morning gave news of the death of a well-known commercial traveller Air Malcolm, who lias for some years past regularly visited this town in the interests of Messrs Bing, Harris and Co. Mr Malcolm made friends wherever he went, and hit; death will be very generally regretted.

Two old identities, Mr and Mrs Doleman, celebrated their golden wedding last evening by entertaining a few relatives and friends. Mr and Mrs Doleman arrived in Gisborne from Sydney in 1871, and they are still both active and well. Their descendants are five daughters, oue son, 34 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

The Christmas mvmber*of the New Zealand Graphic lias reached us through Mr Adams, the local agent. Tlie Graphic still maintains its high class reputation as a journal of art and letters, and tho number before us is most attractively got up. It contains numerous scenes, stories incidental to colonial life and should be a capital memoir to send to friends away. Accompanying it, is a pictorial map of the North Island, giving a good deal of useful information as to industries, etc.

The working of the drain plough ou Mr W. K. Chambers' property at RVpongaere yesterday was watched witli considerable interest by a large number of local farmers. The plough was manufactured byMessrs J. and J. Gait, of Matanra, South Otago, and did really good work. Drains from 18in to 2ft in depth and 30ft apart were cut, Mr Walter Wetbered's traction engine supplying the power, and a round clean-cut hole was made. The plough will no doubt prove very useful, especially iv draining land on which there is a plentiful growth of rushes. In the South Island it has been used most successfully, and land which some .years ago was sour and cold, growing no payable crops, has by draining with this plough been rendered highly fertile. The plough will be at work for two or three days longer.

The Amalgamated Sports Association are still moving ahead with the proposed rocreation ground. All preliminary arrangements will be completed by the Now Year, when it is expected a good start will be made with the improvements. Of course money is wanted badly, and the Committee will be careful not to .shirt until they have suflicient funds in band to carry the thing through. We are pleased to sta<,c that, the ladies have nob been at all backward in supporting tho Association, and they now propose offering some practical assistance in the way of an entertainment in aid of the funds. 'On Friday next it is proposed to repeat tlie entertainment lately given by the " HnoAvflakos," and a meeting of the ladies who took part will be held in the City Rink to-morrow afternoon at i o'clock.

Tlie fire which destroyed Mr Alfred Hattou's house at Ormond yesterday shows how careful people should bo in keeping an eye on fires that they have burning iv the house. Mrs Hatton had just made preparations for dinner, and, leaving a good fire burning in the stove, went outside with a little boy who bad been ill and walked him up and down under the shade of the trees. After a little time she noticed that the house was on fire, and gave the alarm to her husband, who was a few hundred yards away. The fire had a good hold, and, fanned by a light breeze, it speedily demolished the building, so quickly that Mr and Mrs Hatton were unable to save anything beyond an armful of clothes. Tho house was of eight rooms and was well furnished, and Mr Hatton is a considerable loser. He had an insurance in the Royal of ;£2OO on the building and £100 on the furniture, which iv no way represents the loss. The only explanation as to the cause of the fire can be that a spark or piece of burning wood fell out of the front of the stove.