Gisborne Becomes A City

August 10 was a red-letter day for Gisborne. On that day the Mayor, Mr. H. H. Barker, received advice from the Government Statistician that by his calculations the population of the borough had reached 20,000.

When the news became generally known, there was cause for quiet satisfaction, and even a restrained jubilation. But, remembering that the neighbouring city of Napier had prematurely celebrated its new status, only to find that the census told a different tale, the Mayor wisely decided that the real celebrations should be delayed until next year.

Nevertheless, the statistician's announcement was sufficient for Gisborne to be declared a city, fourteenth equal with Hastings, which received notification on the same day.

To mark the occasion, "Photo News" has put to one side a number of its usual features, and in their place has assembled 24 pages of views of Gisborne and district, which are printed in this issue on quality paper. Most of these, taken from the air, from buildings bordering the main street, and from the nearby hills, picture the new city as it is on the occasion of the great event, for they were taken by "Photo News" cameras after the announcement was made.

In its own modest way, therefore, this issue of "Photo News" should be of more than usual interest, not only for the topical picture it presents of the new City of Gisborne, but also as a souvenir of the occasion, and especially as a goodwill gift to all those thousands of people elsewhere in the Dominion, and overseas, who are so keenly interested in the progress of this town and district.