THE STANDARD. SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 39, 29 March 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 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."

In following up our previous remarks on this subject, we have now to repord ' the progress of another still more important work than that which we noticed last week; —namely the Opotiki road, connecting that place with Poverty Bay. The contract for this under- < taking, as, possibly, our readers are aware, is in. the hands of Mr. Leonard Simpson, who is pushing ahead with the earnestness of a thoroughly practical man.

This road will be an estimable addition to the existing means of communication between centres of population that are beginning to create, a special notJHety. The small, towns on the sea-board between Hawked Bay and Auckland, particularly the district of Poverty Bay,—have an individuality of their own; the special circumstances which have culminated in the prosperous condition of each, are

peculiar, and non-ideniical; and ,the necessity is cast upon us to endeavpur to remove the barriers which have hitherto existed between ourselves and the outer world, so to speak. To find the means of trade-exchange; and to create facilities for the carnage and driving of produce and stock, can only be done 4>y directing our attention to such arterial work* as that to which we are now alluding. * The road to Opotiki, unfortunately, will not open much other than a bush country. From Ormohd ? the first 20 miles consists of very rugged fern hills, but, nevertheless, good sheep land, which, ere long, will be turned to a profitable account. The cry of “ no back country ” is a thing of the past. Each settler who plants himself on the outer circumference of a district, is an advance guard that helps to protect it from reproach, and, at the same time, makes way for others. 'Some-of the oil springs, too, with which this coast abounds, lie in this direction. Then we come to the bush itself — mostly Tawa, we believe — which, although not containing any valuable timber, will find a market value in a district where it is anything but plentiful. The road runs through this bush for a distance of 55 miles, opening on to the beach at Opotiki; thence, along that beach, 80 miles to Tauranga. The Moutou valley, 3 miles wide by 20 miles long, lies along the line of road; there are also several smaller ones, and several hills which Mr. Simpson thinks will be the toughest part of the journey; and those who know what bush travelling with stock is, will be able to estimate his opinion at its proper value. The line will be cleared 16 feet wide in bush and 8 feet in open country—too narrow certainly, but better . than nothing.

One of the principal reasons we have in noting the progress of this road is that the attention of the Government may be drawn to two or three items in connection with it, and which are deserving of notice. Mr. Simpson complains, and not without cause First that the terms of his contract tie (or did tie) him down to employ native labor only, if possible ! Secondly, that all his attempts to obtain native labor in this district have been unsuccessful ; because Ropata has here also set up his bristles, and advised the natives against their better judgement: as with Mr. Winter, so with Mr. Simpson. The negotiations he had entered into were in a fair way of being concluded, when this chief advised a course of action quite incompatible with either the interest or desire of any contractor to cariy out the conditions of his contract. The natives refused to work in consequence. Mr. Simpson at once fell back upon his resources; delay was, with him, a serious item to debit of his engagements; so he immediately informed the Government of the fact, and the steps he was about to take in procuring labor from Opotiki. Mr. Simpson is quite able to fight his own battle with the Government; but we certainly think it high time that these natives who hold elevated positions -in the public service of the colony should be taught as well to understand their duty as to appreciate their privileges. The action taken by Ropata in both these road cases, has been productive of: great obstruction, inconvenience, and delay .; and partakes of that character which if pursued by any European in Government employ, would have caused his suspension, and probably rendered a Royal Commission necessary to sit upon his mis-deeds. As this will, possibly, be the highway, by which stock will find, its way to Tauranga and the Thames, we suggest to the Government the advisability of forming camping grounds along the line. Half-a-dozen clearings of a few acres each seem to.) be positively necessary, to help stock along; to say nothing .of the impossibility of shepherding -and keeping either sheep or cattle alive during a long tedious tramp of 55 miles through a dense busk In feet, we doubt : much, if the absence of the means of safety, and existence, on the road, will not operate largely in preventing it being used at all, for the purposes most calculated to benefit the settlers. . . '

jTo SdbscrirrrA—-This, i ming’s issue of the Siandakd eomwtes th* second quarter. ■ Cricket.— Two strong teams will pitch wickets to d»y at Matawhero. Should the weather be propitious a goodly number of visitors, we dare say, wiß take advantage of the opportunity. . General Government Grant.—We understand that the Road Board Imre been advised of the sum of £6BO ISs 4d, being to their credit as the grant for the current year, under distinct instructions that it is to be exblrnuvefeemployed in the formation of new roads,- building bridges &c - ; '' ■ Road Board Engineer.— We understand thAt, in eon mce of engagements made with the General Government, by which he joins Mr. Inspector Blake in the survey of the Poverty Bay telegraph line, Mr. Drummond has resigned his. appointment, as Engineer td the Road Board. It is not officially recorded, however, in the minutes published this morning. Wairoa Rifle Contest.—A friendly match was fired at the Armed Constabulary range, To Kapu on Saturday the 15th instant, between six men of the Armed Constabulary eta-tioned-at Te Kapu, and a similar number of thy Wairoa Rifle Volunteers. The ranges were 300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each, any position. Mounted Constable Bryson made the highest score on the side of the Constabulary, and Volunteer Sargent on that of the Rifles. As will be seen by the scores; the local corps suffered a defeat

A meeting of a singular nature was held in Ngaruawahia on Saturday..., A member, Or reputed member of the mediciaj profession, had acted in A disgusting-manner. The inhabitants felt it desirable that he should leave; they therefore called him into the meeting when the chairman informed him that the sooner he left thq better, both for his own and their sakes. The worthy doctor left yesterday morning carrying all his instruments goods and chatties in a pocket handkercheif.— Waikato Times.

Trotting Match against Time. — The Telegraph gives a sporting item as follows:—Mr. John Stevens having backed his horse “Fred Green," to trot sixteen miles in an hour, carrying 13st 121 b, the match came of this morning, resulting in the complete discomfiture of time, the distance having been gone over in 53 minutes 38 We believe this is the twelfth match of the kind that has been wpn by Mr. Stevens* horse.

Wool.—Wiliam and Overbury Co., in their trade circular for January report t —For the first time in the history of the colonial wool trade, the imports show a falling off in quantity, Only 661,670 bales having reached this market during the past year as compared! with 692,154 bales in 1871. It is true that this diminution is partly accounted for by the direct shipments which have been ,made from the colonies to America and the Continentj but it would appear that the aggregate production has also declined to some extent. Concurrently with these unaccustomed conditions of supply, a high rate of consumption was maintained throughout the year. Trade did not, indeed, exhibit the great activity by which it wa marked in 1871, but there can be no doubt that manufacturers in this country have been fully employed, and their competitors on the Continent fairiy so. That under such circumstances the year should have been one of high prices is not to be' wondered at,- bitt it is probable that current values were higher than they would have been if the demand for wool had exactly corresponded to the demand for fabrics. The expansion in trade which took place in 1871 led to the erection of a great deal Of new machinery, and the necessity of keeping this machinery at worit has operstedin a doable direction; on the one 1 n< impacting an undue stimulus to the demand for the raw material, on reconciled with the comparatively unprofitable business which done during the past year. The fluctuations which the same supposition. The gradual fill which tcohjldjpe duringthsijsing months, represehfid an effort on the part of consumers to get wool at a price more in harmony with the vidua of dedining, rep Fesentef necessity of feeding machinery, which' Wouldhnve remained unemployed if the trade had refused to take orders except at remunerative prices. Phillips and Webb report T-There can bAo doabt that seflnad' putnihiuni. and indeed mineral oib generally, uie tonstantly powing in favor with consumers of all dasaea. The

tradA at the peattwelvemonths Mm been of /* satisfactory chancier, and*Kveinl featotea of

importance deserve notice. A very remarkable movement has occurred in the United States. In the course of the late summer prices declined to so low a point, owing to heavy accumulated stocks, that a combination was formed to restrict the production of crude, and operations at the wells were actually suspended for a period of 30 days. This circumstance led to a considerable rise in values, and up to the present moment there are "no signs of weakness on the other Side; indeed a fresh arrangement is being talked of. Probably in no other countiy could such a sudden stoppage of an immense branch of industiy have been carried through. The total exports from the United States up to the 7th December, 1872, were 3,523,207 barrels, against 3,817,432 barrels in 1871.

armed constabulary. Sub.-Inspct. Ferris ... Sergeant Carlyon Mt. Const. Bryson ... Mt. Const. McDonald Const. Cowie Const. Peevor v . ... 300 400 600 yds yds yds Tl. 44444 33442 22030 43 20334 33024 04322 35 44344 42242 33332 47 33434 43333 20442 45 33344 34044 20303 40 04233 43404 03242 38 Total 248 WAIBOA ' Lieutenant Power ... Volunteer Parker ... Volunteer Sargent ... Volunteer Anderson... Volunteer Downs Volunteer Walker ... VOLUNTEERS. SdO i' 400 600 yds yds yds Tl. 24434 403C4 20043 37 34443 23443 30303 43 32443 23434 30342 44 33233 34222 22224 39 23434 33042 30230 36 43443 22304 30003 35 - Total ... t ... 234