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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 109, 29 November 1873, Page 2

New Membeb.—From the Bizy of Plenty Times we learn that Captain George Bertham Morris has been returned by a majority of 13 votes over Mr. Edgcumbe to represent Tauranga in the Auckland Provincial Council.

Petroleum Company.—A general meeting of the Poverty Bay Petroleum Company is convened for Saturday the 13th of December next, for the purpose of laying present state of affairs before the shareholders. A notice also appears to day to the effect that scrip will be issued to shareholders on application. Petroleum Again.—lt is reported in Napier that indications of Petroleum have been found on the Hon. Donald McLean’s run at Maraekakaho in the province of Hawke’s Bay, and the Telegraph attempts to stir up the settlers with a view to a development of this industry. . Judge Rogan.—This gentleman was a passenger by the Opotiki to Napier on Thursday last, to confer with the Native Minister. He will return to Poverty Bay in a few days, and proceed in that vessel to Opotiki to prepare for the sitting of the Native Lands Court in December.

OJ 1 ’ Notice. —Alfred C. Pratt having unlawfully left the stuff of this paper, is in no way authorized to transact business on account of the Standard. Printer’s Labor.—The value of printer’s labor in Poverty Bay may be gleaned from the fact that although short handed this week, the Standard was ready for publication lust night three hours earlier than usual.

Poverty Bay Herald.—An individual in Gisborne, under the wing of the embryo Poverty Bay Herald, has recently aired his importance, which could never otherwise come to light, by dubbing himself “Our Own Correspondent” to the H. B. Herald, the whole of “ our own’s ” first, (letter we suppose he would call it) being made of extracts from the columns of the Standard, which paper, by virtue of his vocation, he got possession of gratis. The portion, not an extract, runs as follows—the “ wish,” no doubt, being “father to the thought” ; —“Rumour says we are shortly to have a newspaper here—the prospectus is just to hand. The present apology foi one may possibly continue to exist, but many think its light will soon go out after the welcome stranger makes its appearance. Even though the latter may not be of more than ordinary brilliancy, it will, if fairly conducted, put a stop to the gross abuse of the pen so often indulged in by the “ sole proprietor and editor ” of the Standard, who will possibly have to draw in his horns.” That’s his version of the “ ordinary brilliancy ” of the new meteor. By the lost mail from Napier we have a very different version of this mutter. A correspondent under date the 20th November writes thus :—“ * * * Herald matters at the present time stand thus : The Telegraph is rapidly becoming the paper of the place,—the Herald diminishing in an equal ratio, the three proprietors of which are nearly the only men backing it. * * * * * I learn, from very good authority, that six months would be the shortest period it will require for them to make any tangible opposition to the Standard ; and as to their being backed by Poverty Bay millionaires, which should be indispensable, you will be the best judge. The prospectus is characteristic of the source from which it sprang, bounce predominating throughout.” “ Our Poverty Bay Correspondent ” is quite a new idea lately in the columns of the Haivke’s Bay Herald. The latest new sensation is that said correspondent, one of the veriest brain suckers that ever handled a pen, reports that “ in consequence of the insubordinate proceedings of a native named Wi Pere, who appears to have assumed the position of Henare Matua’s lieutenant there,” and “just as the Rangatira was leaving, the Judges had come to a decision to postpone the proceedings of the Court with the view of communicating with the Government. Surely if that had been so, the Rangatira would have been detained for a few minutes to bring the letter.” Surely, also, we think so, too. The Herald however smells a rat, and is somewhat suspicious of this “ gross abuse of the pen ”(ny a line) man, for it “ can hardly credit the rumour.” The whole is a fabrication —nay, something more. Desdemona’s valiant defender ’gainst calumny, finds eloquence in words, which although appropriate to our present denunciation, we need not quote. No obstruction to the Cession Court lias even had the semblance of a probability, during its adjourned sittings, and least of all has Wi Pere identified himself with any such obstruction, further than raising his voice in defence of what he has every right to consider a grievance if he pleases. We do not defend Wi Pere in all that he has done. He has attached himself, as natives will all do, to wliat he deems the stronger party, so as to protect his own interests in his own way. He covertly backed up the section

of obstructors under Heuare Matua, and in former times was a reputed apostate from our ranks to the ranks of Te Kooti; and indeed since his arrival from Wellington he has harangued his people to “ shut up the Court,” but not, as we learn, by any physical means, but by argument, and a refusal to record the necessary applications for the Commission to investigate the claims. This, to say the least, is a privilege to which all are entitled. It is evident that because Wi Pere sees the Government and Europeans are stronger than the natives are in this land business, wo now find him cordially accepting Mr. Locke's suggestions on behalf of the Government, that the whole of the confiscated land, with certain exceptions, be returned to the tribes interested, and that trustees be elected to represent them in its disposition ; and we believe thoroughly that we have to thank that circumstance rather than his own loyalty, for finding him not actively employed against ns as “ Henare Matua’s lieutenant ;” but it moves us with potent wrath to see that any new jackanapes, whose ignorance and presumption are his only recommendation, can find favor with a journal that should by this time have some claim to reliableness, and palm off as fact that which, hat not the slightest foundation. Sprats like these will never catch many mackerel.