THE STANDARD. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 26, 12 February 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1873.

“ 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.”

The p.s. Comerang, which arrived in port on Saturday night last, although not the bearer of the Poverty Bay mail, has brought us two or three items of intelligence, which, at the present. juncture of our affairs, cannot but be interesting to aIL These may, it is true, be retarded in their immediate effect, from the somewhat unaccountable fact that the mail for this port has gone to the Fiji group, it is supposed, in H.M.s. ship Dido, while the Fiji mail came on here in the Comerang. It must, however, be a small, and, possibly, an unimportant mail, as the Star of the South and Nebraska both preceded the Comerang with mails, which, with the English portion, we shall probably get by the Rangatira, due here about Friday. The Comerang has been bought by the Auckland Steam Packet Company who, have also become the owneA of the Star of the South, the Golden Crown, and the Royal Alfred, the two latter of which are paying well in the river trade between Auckland, the Thames, and Coromandel. It is their intention to purchase two other boats, as opportunity offers, and pick up the Wanganui and Napier stock trade. The General Government have accepted the A.S.P. Co.’s tender to perform twelve four-weekly trips to the Fiji group, and the Star will be despatched thence, as the trial boat, in the course of a week or two. The Comerang will continue the trade between this port, Napier, and Auckland, if the Company’s tender for the service be accepted by the Provincial Government; at

| any rate, she will make two or three trips to I ascertain the amount of support she is likely to get, and will return to this port about the 24th or 25th instant, in time for the Land Sale. We have seen the Prospectus of the local Company, the names on the Directory of which are a sufficient guarantee of its soundness. It proposes raising a capital of £50,000 in 5,000 stares of £lO each, £4 10s of which is to be paid up at once. We understand a considerable number of shares, allotted by the Company for this district, have been taken up; and we dare say a goodly number more will be applied for so soon as it has become known. This enterprise deserves the support and good wishes of all, as the men most prominent in the undertaking are interested in the success of Poverty Bay, as a district worth encouraging; and, as we cannot do what we would, the next best thing is to shew that we deserve something being done fer us by our friends, and towards continuing in the service a steamer of light draught that can come into the river almost at any state, of .the tide. The local endeavour has our warmest support, _ c . Our Church prospects would seem to been the wane, if we may judge from the valedictory exhortation Mr Lysnar gave tjie remnant of a congregation attending the reading of the service of the Church -of England on Sunday evening last. It appears to have become necessary to clbse for the present, as the number, attending, from among a population said to be largo and increasing, does not warrant the trouble. We hope this may be the means of waking up somebody, for in all matters, yer q airing the smallest modicum of personal sacrifice, we seem to be asleep ; and a very discourteous silence lias followed the Bishop of Waiapu’s offer which appeared in our columns a short time since. Another Commission. —We expect to see On the Estimates next year provision made for , a new appointment to be called “ Inspector of ' Frauds, and other reprehensible conduct, on the part of Government Officials, salary £6OO per annum.” These instances ttat so fre- : quently occur, of one Official presiding over ; the supposed delinquencies of others, are, ; independently of the absurdity of the “ system,” i quite sufficient to prove either that Colonel I Russell has too little to do, in his legitimate work, or is paid to much for what little he does ; do. The Napier Telegraph says:—We under- | stand that the Hon. Col. Russell proceeded by j the s.s. Rangatira to Ficton, as one of the Com- ■ missioners to hear the charges made against a General Government officer at Blenheim.

Our Police.—The system at present in vogue which professes to regulate the police policy of this province is in a very unsatisfactory condition. When the Hon. the Defence Minister was here last* Colonel St. John, who was with him, was instructed to inspect the District and report to the Government on matters affecting the Constabulary, public buildings and departments, including that portion of the duty of the local force, which comes under the head of Police. That report of the gallant Colonel was, it is understood, generally unfavorable, but in what particular feature it is not our duty just now to discuss. One portion of ttat report, however, so nearly concerns the community in a domestic point of view, that as we have already seen the evil consequences from immediate steps being taken to give practical effect to it, it behoves us, very properly to call into question the reasonableness and judiciousness of some of its recommendations. We allude to the reduction of the town police to one Constable, which we need hardly say is a reductio ad absurdmn. The old story of a “ Corporal and two,” is if anything an improvement on “ a Constable and none.” Now we think the Government should look at this matter in a more liberal spirit than is contained in Colonel St. John’s report. One policeman is not enough for this township. Hitherto the duties of that department devolving on the Constabulary have been performed under Sergeant Shirley with very commendable watchfulness, who, until lately has had three or four men stationed with himself at Gisborne, and been, enabled to keep up a good night watch. Under the altered arrangements, we not only have lost that means of security, but are practically at the mercy of any drunken peace or lawbreaker by day. A considerable portion of the one Constable’s time is occupied at the Blockhouse, supervising the prisoners while at work, the number of which is not likely to decrease; his attendance at the Court, and other duty render it quite impossible to be of any effective use in time of emergency. But this is a subject on which we have a perfect right to look to the Provincial Government for assistance; they draw pretty largely from the district now ; the revenue and trade are increasing, and Mr. Lusk’s attention might be drawn to the matter at his ensuing visit. The very fact of the magazine being in an unguarded state in the middle of the town, should be an inducement to the Government to take means to guard against accidents. When the magazine was kept at the Albert Barracks the Press and local authorities at Auckland ceased not until they got it removed, viewing with a very natural alarm, the consequences of disaster certain to follow a blow up. We are not alarmists without cause when we seek to have the chances of a ‘ blow up ’ reduced to a mininum. At present it is not. With nothing but an ordinary flooring between it and the general apartment of the occupants above, where it is possible, smoking, at any rate, goes on pretty freelv, it is only a wonder that something has not happened ’ere this. We commend the consideration of this subject to the earnest attention of the Government. The military forte are concentrated atCamp Ormond as a sort of outlying protection to the town; by all means let them take their murderous projectiles with them. Idolatry nr London.—There is actually a subscription on foot in Bombay to build a pagoda in London for the worship of Vishnu and Siva. The Archbishop may see the heathen sooner than was expected.

Gisborne Nmtve School.—The committee of management held an inspection of the scholars on Monday,' reporting very favorably of the progress made by the children under the tution of Mr. Bryant. The average attendance during the six months the school 'has been opened, has been upwards of fifty.—(Communicated, j ’ Artesian Well.—We are. gbid to notice the enterprise which is taking an active form towards supplying the country with a great boon, acceptable to all during the year. Mr. Dalzicll has pretty well secured the co-operation of both town and country settlers in raising funds towards an experimental artesian well in front of his Hotel at Jfakaraka. We believe it is intended to sirifon the public road-way so that it will property, so to speak ;and we would. Suggest that for proper, security it be place<Vunder the control of the Road Board, towards which project that body might deem it proper to subscribe a quota of assistance. Should this succeed it will be a forerunner of a large number which will soon stud the whole flat. Many disheartening failures took place in early days in both Napier and Christchurch, where now water is guaranteed at from £7 to £lO. And we hope, although one attempt has failed, ttat the first failure or disappointment • won’t induce the promoters to abandon it. | The Colonial Prize Firing takes place on i March 4th. | A fire broke out at Tauranga. Maxwell’s bakery was destroyed. The building was situated in the centre of a block ; the whole town had a most providential escape. The type and plant of the Bay of Plenty Times were removed; the paper was duly published, but with much difficulty. Average crops throughout the district. — Press Association. Ear} Granville, at the request of Lord Kimberley, has put Dr. Featherston in official communication with the American legation respecting the San Francisco mail subsidy. The Government have instructed Dr. Featherstone not to enter into any new contract with Shaw, Saville and Co., nor with any other company, for a lengthened period. The Telegraphic correspondent of the Evening Star says:—An important case under the Highway Boards Empowering Act was heard yesterday. The Little River Board was ousted through issuing a notice of election on the wrong date, and for not appointing two polling places.

The tender of the Auckland Packet Co., for a monthly service between Auckland and Fiji, at £lOO per trip of 28 days, has been accepted, subject to the approval of the vessel by the Superintendent of Auckland. The contractors propose the Star of the South.—Napier Telegraph. The N.Z.S.S. Co.’s tAder for a Fiji service, starting from Port Chalmers, and calling at other ports, to Auckland, was £6OO per trip. The native meeting held at Maungatautari concluded to-day without any result. The kingites still hold out not to sell, survey, or lease land, and refuse consent to open Arota. Te Hire’s speech was pacific.— Press Association. The Rev. J. Buller, the Thames Advertiser learns, is about to proceed to Sydney, to attend the annual sitting of the Wesleyan Conference; and as the rev. gentleman’s term of ministry in his present circuit is expired, it is probably the Conference will remove him to Christchurch, a request having been sent from there to that effect. Would that we had such a man with us here.

Auckland Education Act.—The Herald may sit on its hind legs apd howl against the Education Act, correspondents may write to this and ttat journal indulging in the most egregious cant respecting the manner in which such rate, in their opinion, outrages all rules of political economy, and “ poor men’s friends,” that most contemptible of all classes of humbugs, endeavour to predjudiee the community against the Act by charging its framers with partiality in fixing the incidence of the rate, but in spite of them all the Act will be accepted by the people, will work fairly, and before twelve months are over be recognised and acknowledged as one of the most practically beneficial measures passed by the Council. — Coromandel Mail. Here is a specimen of the sort of work the Government think Colonel Russell most fitted to unravel. The following is from the Jfwf6oro«yA Express:— “Notice. —My wife, Eleanor Eyes, having left my house and removed my .children therefrom without my consent, I hereby give notice that I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by her.—W. H. Eyes. Jan. 13, 1873. —Notice.—My husband, William Henry Eyes, having advertised in the public newspapers ttat I left his house and removed his children therefrom without his consent, I hereby give notice to all whom it may concern that he ordered me out of his house, and that the children left with me of their own choice.— Eleanor Eyes. Blenheim, Jan. 15,1873.” It will be of interest to the various Highway Boards in the province to know that they may proceed with their projected works without delay, the General Government having acceded* to the recommendation of the Superintendent, and consented to jKy the highway vote forthwith. This will enable the fine weather to be taken advantage of, instead of deferring operations until the wet season sets in. It was intended, we understand, by the General Government, to pay the vote in five equal instalments, but the Superintendent recommended that it should all be paid at once, and that if it was not convenient for the Government to do so, he would make arrangements with the Bank for an advance for the amount payable to Auckland. His Honor has received a telegram stating that his recommendation has been agreed to by the Government. Mr. Gillies deserves credit for his prompt action in this matter.— N.Z. Herald