THE STANDARD. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1872. MR. LUSK’S VISIT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 2, 12 October 1872, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1872. MR. LUSK’S VISIT.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

We are certainly not among the number of malcontents who are dissatisfied with everything; nor do we believe in that peculiar kind of personal Government whose Alpha and Omega are to sit at ease, and dispense official mandates to a most obedient people. One of the first duties of a wise ruler is to make himself personally acquainted with the wants and habits of those he is to govern, and with the resources of the country over which he is placed. The diligent, unostentatious, journeyings through new districts; a careful notation of small facts, which, in the aggregate, form the foundation of a people’s history, and give employment to the official mind in various stages of • development; a watchful eye; an :dtteni tive ear; a ready ken, and observation; a patient mind; and a discriminating tact; are the means employed by those who, in the pursuit of knowledge, intend ’to exercise it for the public good. The i Governors of countries do this. Our own ! Colonial Government have followed suit; ' and now, coming to the smaller, but equally necessary, Orbs in our political ‘ circle, we think our settlers may congratulate themselves, both on the fact and the result, of the Provincial Secre- ’ tary’s visit to these offieially-unexplored : regions. As an accredited agent of the Provincial Government, Mr. Lusk’s presence here, in his dual capacity of Provincial Premier, and Government auctioneer for the sale of land, cannot . but be productive of good. Hitherto the Provincial Government, Representatives and all, (according to Mr. Gillies’ own shewing, in a lecture on “Our Laws: and how they are made,” delivered in .June last, at the “Young Mens’ Christian Association” Rooms, in Auckland) have been lamentably ignorant of the resources, and capabdities of this district. Its geographical position was, also, foggily obscure. They understood, from a sort of intuitive knowledge, that Poverty Bay was some murderous out-of-the-way place, on the East Coast; but beyond that, and a sort of Te Kooti-ism which overshadowed their remembrance of one of the fairest spots of the earth, they knew nothing,—and the Superintendent admitted it. As he wielded the hammer of declamation with so much vigour, we will not detract from its positiveness, but quote from His Honor’s remarks entire. He said: —“ And another serious detriment to«oar legislation is this: —The ' absolute ignorance of our legislators of the colony, and the circumstances of the colony for which they profess to legislate. Of our Auckland members, how many have seen Otago, or Southland, not to mention Westland; ? Hov many Otago or Southland members have seen Auckland ? But let us not make invidious comparisons, but ask ourselves how many of our members of Assembly have seen Poverty Bay? How many Mongonui, much less Parenge*renga: How many even Tauranga,theKhipara,

or the Waikato ? The limited know

Jedge of the colony possessed by our (legislators is one of the greatest sources (of our defective legislation, as well of (the local jealousies, which hinder our progress.” This we cordially endorse; but Mr. Gillies’ goose must not be served without the sauce which he and his co-

adjutors have prepared for it. Hei carefully abstained from attaching blame! to the Provincial supineness which has characterised the conduct of Auckland in dealing with this part of the province. We do not, however, forget it; but rather remember that, in the midst of our troubles, our friends were not those of our own house. To these recent days of peace Auckland has left us to struggle alone. Hawke’s Bay stood valiantly by and came to our assistance when required; and would have done yet more, if the wishes of the settlers had been respected. We wish now to bury the past. We know we are worth the protection that we claim ; and are contented to accept all Mr. Lusk has promised to perform, as an earnest of good will. We now expect from Mr. Gillies, a proper observance of the articles of his political faith. The wholesale condemnation in which he indulged, he must expect to receive a share of in his turn He is looked to now to supply the deficiencies, or some of them, which he so eloquently laments in others; and we cannot help expressing a hope, that, while Mr. Gillies is endeavouring to improve the condition of affairs from a Colonial point of view, he will not, thereby, render nugatory the good intentions of the Government he has recently left; or by any experimental propagandism, or Quixotic hunt after “trained intellects,” and, “ administra-j tive brains,” disturb the peace which slumbers in the valleys of this delightful country. There is one other satisfactory result, arising from this visit, and which the Provincial Secretary expressed himself ; highly gratified with, and that was the ■ proceeds of the land sale. We believe . some £1,300 was.added to the Provincial Chest, which practically proves' in the best possible manner, that the insecurity of the past, is giving way to confidence and renewed hope. Mr. Lusk took advantage of this opportunity to make himself acquainted with the district by taking a day or two’s turn around it, and visiting its chief points of interest; and the happy astonishment of the hon. gentleman, at the beauty of this hitherto unhappy Hau-Hau ridden country, culminated in the financial delight he experienced in beholding the best proof he could have of the settler’s prosperity and energy —a general investment in land. We hope the Provincial Secretary will find leasure to give us his own impressions, which will be a fitting testimony to the altered feelings of his Government towards us.