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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 85, 6 September 1873, Page 2

War Medals.—The following is a neat specimen of the way in which the Agent-General conducts the affairs of colony, at “ Westminster Chambers,” and may be taken as a sample of all the other causes of complaint which bristle throughout the whole of the correspondence between the Government and Dr. Featherstone. On the 25th November, 1871, Mr. Gisborne places £4OO at the disposal of the Agent-General with instructions from the Defence Minister “ to procure from the Imperial authorities 1000 more New Zealand War Medals, for issue to the Colonial Forces,” a step made necessary because Mr Morrison, the original agent had also neglected his duty by “ purchasing from Mr. G. Austin, 13 St. James-street, at a cost of £73 10s, an inscribing machine and type,” which were “ entirely useless.” On the 15th Feb., 1873 —more than a year after—Colonial Secretary informs AgentGeneral that “ the 1000 War Medals have not yet been received in New Zealand although a voucher, dated 12th April, 1872, amounting to £278 3d, as the cost of the silver and manufacturing the same, has been received by the Treasurer.” Silence reigns supreme; and on the 12th April, 1873, the hon. Mr. M'Lean telegrams to the Agent-General thus:—“Where are the second thousand War Medals ordered eighteen months ago? Much discontent (at) delay.” This electric shock wakes up Mr. Agent-General, who as early as the 12th of May following says :—“ The matter had been entrusted by me to Mr. Morrison, and, till seeing your letter, I was under the impression that the Medals had been forwarded to the Colony. I find, however, that the Medals are still at the Mint and have not been mounted.” Dr. Feather-

stone explains that the delay has been occasioned through the non-settlement of Mr. Austin’s account, and promises to incur a little further expense, by, as he says, placing the matter in the hands of my solicitor for such further action as he may advise.” Colonial Secretary telegrams on the 18th June, 1873 : —“ War Medals much wanted; send immediately,” a reply to which was received at Hokitika from Agent-General on the 17th July,—“ Medals next mail.” If this is the way in which an expensive official with a salary of £2OOO a year, plus allowances and expenses, conducts the affairs of the Colony, the sooner he is recalled the better.

Quadrille Assembly. — The second of the present series will take place on Tuesday evening next as usual. It is reported that Mr. Sheehan’s motion for a Steam Subsidy between Auckland and Poverty has been lost.

Cricket. —The lovers of this noble game are invited to form a team for the coming season. A meeting will be held, for the purpose of enrolling members, at the Court-house, on Monday evening next, when all who take delight in this kind of sport should attend. Excelsior Troupe.—This plucky little knot of gymnasts had a capital house at the Ormond theatre on Monday evening last. The night was fine, that is, it did not rain as it has provokingly done on several evenings fixed for their performance. As we have said, the theatre was full, and everyone highly delighted with the entertainment. Professor Harrison the Wizard of the South will appear with his talented Company at the Music Hall on Monday evening next. From the fame which has preceded the Professor we predict a capital entertainment. Not one of the least attractions will be a number of presents which are to be distributed to patrons. Mr. Buchanan’s Store and Dwelling-house at the corner of Custom-house and Childers-streets, is in a fair way of speedy completion ; and, considering the unsettled weather we have had of late, shews that the building of it has been entrusted to able hands. The building is two storied, 40 x2B built on solid brick piers. The ground floor is divided into a store 16 x 26 and three private rooms, separated by a main hall 6 feet wide, with an 11 foot stud; the upper story consists of five bedrooms with a 9 foot stud. The whole is of kauri timber and shingles, and is being built by Mr. Hill of Auckland under the superintendence of Mr. R. M. Skeet. The dwelling will be occupied shortly, and business operations will commence about the end of the month.

The Ball given by the settlers to Judge Rogan, Judge Munro and visitors at present in Gisborne at tlie Music Hall on Tuesday night last was another of the many social successes which have made this township a happy abiding place for residents, and an attraction to those whose duty or inclination now and then call them hither. About 60 responded to the invitation of the Stewards and a most agreeable evening was spent. persistent rain which continued to fall all through the day. Dancing was kept up with unflagging humour, and guests and hosts alike seemed thoroughly to enter into an enjoyment of the festivities. Mr. Fisher catered for the refreshments.

Chronological Tables.—Amongst the Parliamentary papers presented to both Houses of the General Assembly, is to be found one of the most useful ever compiled by the Government, and for which it deserves the thanks of the Colony. The Tables, as their name implies, comprehend the whole of the Statute law of the Colony as it stood at the opening of the present session, ranged in sessional order from 1840 to 1872, distinguishing under separate heads “ Imperial Statutes passed’ subsequently to the 14th of January, 1840, which have been adopted by the Colonial Legislature; ” “ Ordinances of the General Legislative Council of New Zealand from 1841 to 1853 inclusive; ” “ Ordinances of the Legislative Council of the Province of New Munster passed in the year 1849; ” and “ Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand from 1854 to 1872 inclusive; ” references are also made to amending, expired, and obsolete Acts, which cannot fail, in the absence of a law compendium, to be of immense advantage both to lawyers and the lay public generally. The next best thing the House can do is to cause the whole to be “ boiled down ” to such a state as will enable ordinary mortals to digest them. Several matters of interest connected with Church polity are now engaging the attention of the community, foremost among them being—first:—The advisability of erecting an edifice for public worship, and second.—The ways and means of doing so. It is understood that the sum subscribed to the Building Fund for an Episcopalian Church amounts to near £3OO, or at any rate it could easily be made to reach that sum. The Presbyterian body, we believe, have no intention of building at present: they have a clergyman and no church ; we may say we have a church, as represented by the fund alluded to, but no clergyman. This being so, let us coalesce, and unite in doing one thing well, in preference to doing two things badly, let there be one building for all worshippers.. The town and country alike are growing apace, and the necessities for each separate denomination will become apparent as numbers increase, but until they do, it would be be unwise to divide the forces —clerical and lay—as they exist at the present. The Rev. Mr. Root is, physically and mentally, equal to the task of both town and country ministrations, but his stipend is necessarily small; therefore we suggest that that be augmented instead of lessened, (which it would doubtless be with the presence of another clergyman here) ; and that the money promised be advanced to his Presbytery for two or three years, at reasonable interest, to build a Church with at once, on the understanding that it is to be open to the Episcoualian body at all convenient seasons for the purpose of Divine Worship. _ We hope the presence of the Bishop of the Diocese who is at present in Gisborne, will stimulate matters, and that a meeting will be called to consider this question before he leaves us again.