THE STANDARD. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1872.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 7, 16 November 1872, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1872.

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

The question involved in “ a Ratepayer’s” letter, in another column, is one which we are glad to perceive is taking a practical turn, by awakening an interest in things that closely concern our present and future prospects, and by stimulating the public mind to action. The position of most of the settlers in .this district is exceptionable; and the means by which they can secure the advantages supposed to be derived from local government, lie so entirely with themselves, that, unless an active, watchful, interest is displayed in the incipient stages of either law making, or law amending, they can hardly complain of a little stretching of the functions possessed by the only local corporate body they have that is able to make representations to either the Provincial or the General Government with, at any rate, the sanction of official

authority. Our correspondent’s chief complaint seems to partake of a dual character; first, as to the nature of the alteration proposed by the Road Board in the Fencing Act, and, second, that the Board have affected to influence legislative action, and make suggestions, without consulting the wishes of those whom they arc most calculated to benefit, or otherwise. This seems to be only a reasonable complaint; but we think we speak within the mark when we say that the members of the Board, all of whom are as greatly concerned in the satisfactory conditions of the Fencing Act as any settlers can be, have taken great trouble to ventilate the question, and to ascertain the current of public opinion thereon. The fencing laws of this province are, evidently, a bone of contention amongst the sheepfarming and agricultural classes. In the settlements immediately around Auckland, and those stretching away to the North, a war of opposing opinions, —all tending, more or less, to deprecate the present Fencing Act—has been carried on, without any practical result, for some considerable time ; and, Raving the Road Board itself to satisfy public opinion here, as to the mode they have chosen to adopt, in suggesting alterations in Provincial laws, —why they have thought fit to take up any public ques-

tion, not laid down in the Acts from which their powers spring, —we certain!) think the the time has arrived when the Lt gislature should be called upon to hearken to the cry of the injured ones.

Besides this particular question now brought prominently forward, there are manv others which demand a careful conservation, and if wisdom is to be our guide, the sooner they undergo the process of examination, the better. The location of Immigrants: Sheep and Scab regulations: Representation of this district in the Provincial Council: The enforcement of sanitary regulations: Steam, and Telegraphic communication, all demand to be attentively regulated, if we would not drift into thorough helplessness. The Road Board have taken up some of these questions in a spirit which shews a commendable energy. In their collective capacity, having authority over many things, they may be regarded as Satraps of a peculiar order , but, if they be not endowed with defined functions in certain given directions, may, nevertheless, be looked upon as a convenient means of communication between the settlers and the Government, and, even to the extent of erring in a good cause, are entitled to the thanks of the community for initiating subjects to the attention of the authorities, which cannot but be beneficial to the districts. Let the settlers be true to themselves. Let them be up and doing. Let them give all the aid they can in propelling the machinery they have already got ; and, if anything is being done inimically to the best interests of all, decidedly let there be understanding about it without further delay.