THE STANDARD. WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 70, 16 July 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 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.”

Now that the Customs department is established in Gisborne, and the commerce of the port is increasing to an appreciable item in the returns of the Colony, it is to be hoped that the trading community will study their own interests bv arranging that all dutiable goods are skipped here under bond. There is already one good bonded store at Captain Bead’s wharf; and Messrs. Ghaham & Co. have another in course of erection in the rear of their present warehouse : on that score, therefore, there can be no possible excuse for clearing goods from bond in other places to be brought on hither, duty paid. Of course, it is to be argued that business people will carry on their transactions as they best please, in a manner which, to them, may be supposed to be most advantageous to themselves ; and we may be told that if they choose to lose the interest on their money, by paying for excisable merchandize cleared at other ports, instead of shipping from bond to bond, and so swell the Custom’s receipts at their own port, it can be no business of ours. But we suggest the short-sightedness of this course, in all cases where it can be avoided, with every confidence that mercantile men, will, generally, bring their attention to bear on the matter.

The question of immediate profit to this port is not in the scale of present consideration, so much as the collateral advantages which would accrue to it if all dutiable goods, brought into the place for home consumption, were passed before the Customs, and the duty paid here. As far as the Province’s position with the General Government is concerned, the capitation allowance from Customs’ revenue would remain unchanged; but as an important district, shewing an increasing local revenue, our position would be materially strengthened in demanding from the Provincial

Government a pro rata expenditure in the district, which we do not get now. Were we entitled to demand, or were the Provincial Government compelled by law to allocate the capitation allowance to districts upon the same basis —that of population—as is laid down in the “ Pay- “ ments.to Provinces Act,” it would be a matter which affected us less directly; but, considering that we have to fight hard for the little we do get, we should be careful not to commit ourselves in a way which would operate adversely to the general welfare. We are glad to find, however, that a lively agitation is now going on, which will, probably, give a turn to the current of our affairs, and radically alter our relations with both General and Provincial Governments. The question of Separation will, if vigorously prosecuted, and successfully carried; be the turning point in our future prosperity; it will place us in direct communication with the General Government, and we shall have sole control over the revenue raised amongst us. But that should not induce us to to relax our efforts in furthering the best interests of the district by all the direct and indirect means at our command.

The Hawke's Ray Herald, of the Bth inst., says it learns that the sum of £BOO “ has “ been appropriated ” for the improvement of the harbor of Poverty Bay. We are very glad to hear this good news; but we take leave to doubt the authenticity of the Herald's information. On so important a subject, we could have wished that the authority had been quoted as well as the fact, as the news here is held to be “ too good to be true.” We are, also, unaware as how the £BOO could have been appropriated ; certainly not in the last Session of the Provincial Council, as £3OO was the sum voted to the Highway Board, for Public Works in the District; and the modest sum of £2O has been intimated as being at the service of the Board for harbor improvements, without any appropriation at all. We are, however, aware that Mr. Sheehan has lately been “ capitalizing ” himself and his government both in Poverty Bay and in Hawke’s Bay. It is, also, pretty generally known that there has been a mutual exchange of big ideas between some members of the Road Board and himself, on the question of the loan, in which he made known the great interest he and his government had always had in this district; and unfolded their intention as to what good things were in store for us if his man were returned as Superintendent, and if they succeeded in floating the loan. “ Appropriation,” in this way, has been very freely resorted to ; for we find the Road Board giving instant effect to the suggestions of the Goldfield’s Secretary by further “ appropriating ” the sum of £2,500 of money which has not only yet to be obtained, but the permission to obtain it remains to be asked for.