CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 34, 12 March 1873, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Our columns are open for free discussion; but we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents.}

TO TUB KDITOB OF THE STABDABD. Bib, —With regard to our police functionaries stationed in Gisborne, I think it is high time that the public should take notice of them and their duty. We are well aware that it is their duty to take an inebriate and place him in safe keeping—especially when he is creating a breach of the peace; but not to interfere with a person when he is going quietly to his home, as was the case a few days since with me. I would ask how it is that some of those would-be—- “ bobbies ” —gentlemen from home, can stand and look on when our Maori brethren are going in, ad libitum, and not interfere, as has been the case on many an occasion. I have witnessed here, in front of the Albion Hotel, a worthy townsman grossly maltreated, but no notice was taken of it, our worthy guardians of the town, thinking discretion the better part of valor, and would not interfere with our Maori fnends’who were the cause of the affray. I think it is high time that some of our leading townsmen would see the matter rectified; and see that the Government would find men more suitable for the office, and not keep a useless body on pay as the present —men useless —fit for nothing ; imposing on the public purse, and can be reckoned more the L.C. than the A.C. I am, sir, A Suffebeb.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD. Sib, —Through the medium of your columns, 1 would ask those gentlemen, sitting as members of the Road Board, whether it is consistent with good faith on their part, to have, without previous reference to ratepayers, petitioned the Government to proclaim another Highway District beyond the Big River. Would it not have been more honourable to have requested an extension of boundaries of the existing Board ? Especially as the gentlemen referred to above used the funds to the improvement of their properties, without contributing even a fair proportion of rates levied. It is useless cavilling if the majority of ratepayers are satisfied that they are being honestly represented by gentlemen arrogating to themselves the right to institute measures of public moment, and using, unauthorizedly, the names of the ratepayers in furtherance of their object; but I cannot help thinking it unwise to allow individuals the power to institute measures of public import, whether inimical to our interests or otherwise. I am, sir, Evioiiatob. [Our correspondent will be glad to learn that the Provincial Government formed a correct estimate of these gentlemens’ meddlesome services, and very properly returned the petition to them. The Government intimated that such a recommendation should come from the Road Board; but even then it could not be said to represent public opinion, simj ly because the members choose to play the Autocrat. We are glad to find that the settlers are watchful of their own interests. — Ed.]