THE STANDARD. SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 57, 31 May 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1873.

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

These were two meetings of the inhabitants of Poverty Bay, held in the Music Hall at Gisborne, on Wednesday last, which will in their results do more to determine the future position this district is to occupy, iu its relation to the rest of the Colony, than anything effected sin - ■ settlement began to take an active form in it. The good that is likely to arise from them may not be apparent at first view, that is, insofar as the meeting of rate-payers is concerned. For, although those who ardeutly wish for a change, do so on the basis of partitioning the district, it is satisfactory io know that the general desire is to secure such extensions and modifications of the present boundaries, as will fall on, and include all who should bear an equitable burden of taxation. The only difference that exists seems to be the manner in which the alteration is to be effected. The majority at the meeting were evidently in tavor of there being two more districts ; but they adopted the somewhat illogical argument that it is better to make the existing evil greater before they attempt to grapple with it and make it less. In short, they purpose doing evil that good may come of it, spontaneously, it is thought, from causes acting within itself. They say, in effect, “ let us have a district too large to manage, and then certain portions of it will be forced into separation ; let us become like oxen, before we are made to appear as frogs.” This is, however, the chief point of difference, and although the resolution was carried, the small number of its supporters cannot maintain that it is binding on the whole district.

The settlers on the South side of the Big River have already taken action in the matter ; and there can be no- doubt that the Superintendent will give effect rather to localizing than centralizing the duties of Road Boards, and grant the prayer of the petitioners who seek to manage their own affairs in their own way, instead of going through a process of circumlocution, which would be tedious without being effective. By the provisions of the Highways Act, the Superintendent can alter or amend the . boundaries of any district; as also create new districts. Any action thereunder, would, however, be in consonance with the wishes of the settlers, not . ofamzt them, and these have yet to be expressed in a far more decided manner than was done at Wednesday’s meeting. A resolution carried by a majority of

9, where but 15 persons took the trouble to vote out of the 40 who assumed to represent the people of the whole district, is hardly likely to carry much weight in influencing the Government against what would be its obvious duty in carrying into effect the wishes of those people set forth in a memorial. As we have said, good will come of it, for the work has been begun which must be carried on at once, only in a very different manner from that set forth by the few adherents of that, happy-go-lucky state of 'mind Which is so ready to accept any change for improvement.