THE STANDARD. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 117, 31 December 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 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.”

Hib Honor the Superintendent’s speech, with which he opened the Auckland Provincial Council ou the 16th instant, is reprinted verbatim in this morning’s issue. We commend this speech to the careful perusal of our readers, as it foreshadows—indeed it could not well do otherwise than foreshadow —an outline of what His Honor is prepared to do in the interests of the province, if his Executive and the Council will but work with him. Of this both have given an earnest and practical pledge, that is so far as was compatible with their own dignity and responsibility as representatives of the people. During the contest, w’hich has ended in installing the present Superintendent in his old office, it was our good fortune to back the winning man; but the fortunate result of the election was brought about less by a hap-hazard concatenation of uncontrolled circumstances, than through the means prudently employed by the electors (ourselves among the number) to put the right man in the right place. We have nothing to say against His Honor’s late opponents now. The strife is over ; but the duty of the whole constituency must not be thought to be at an end. It is ours to watch, and actively observe the squaring of promises by the rule of performances.

There are several points in the Superintendent’s address that are, perhaps, more immediately interesting to the settlers of Poverty Bay, and which we purpose now shortly to remark on; but before doing so we beg to remind His Honor that there are two subjects of paramount importance to this portion of the province which he has not touched upon at all. These are: steam communication ; and the settlement of a population here by the acquisition of lands suitable for that purpose. The general principle is laid down by His Honor that “ the Superintendent should “ be placed in a position to secure the “acquisition of lands really fitted for “cultivation and settlement,” and we entirely concur in His Honor’s view that “ some'discretion should be allowed to “ him in directing” efforts made towards that end by the General Government; but it would, have given us greater satisfaction had, not only Poverty Bay, but the whole of the East Coast Settlements —rising rapidly in importance—found a special mention in the inaugural speech. It would have given us to understand

that, far removed though we may be from the centre of Government, we occupy a niche in His Honor’s remembrance, and that Me prime difficulty which still stands in the way of plenteous settlement in this Bay, is numbered among the objects of his solicitude. In view of the lengthy adjournment of the Council (four months), we trust that Mr. Williamson may be able to pay an official visit to Poverty Bay, which would do more for its advancement than any, amount of representation, oral or written, that can be brought before him. Next to coming himself, however, we would suggest the advisability of the Superintendent urging upon the attention of the Colonial Government the absolute necessity that exists for something being done with a view to reporting officially on the present condition of affairs here, and the chances there are—remote or otherwise—of this district ever receiving any benefit from the Immigration and Public Works scheme, which we are being taxed pretty smartly for ; of course, we do not forget the pittances received as the district’s share of the Road Board Grant. Mr. Halcome was recently accredited by the Government to make a special report upon the adaptability of the Tauranga lands for special settlement. The result is that a large number of immigrants will soon be located there; and we have no doubt that a similar compendious report would have a like beneficial effect in furthering the question of settlement in Poverty Bay. The subject of steam communication between Auckland and this port has, thanks to our member’s action in the Council, at last assumed a definite shape ; but the framers of the address would have paid a fitting tribute of justice to this district had the matter been considered worthy of any special remark in His Honor’s speech. And this strikes us as a rather awkward omission, in the face of the fact that Mr. Sheehan, the present Provincial Secretary, moved for a subsidy for this service in the House of Representatives, and that the leading business men of Auckland have but recently pressed the matter somewhat vigorously on the attention of the General Government.

Eoremost amongst other things, “ im- “ portant reforms and modifications of “thepresent Highway Board system” are promised, and not before they are wanted. But our present dual form of Government guarantees us nothing, and secures us less. The Provincial Council proposes, but the General Assembly disposes. The Rating clauses in the Highways Act cannot be altered in any way satisfactory to the people, without clashing with the counterpart clauses contained in the Highway Boards Empowering Act. Again, one of the chief elements of power required by country Boards such as our own is that of borrowing money —a power to anticipate revenue by the creation of means to carry on absolutely necessary works. This power cannot be granted by the Provincial Council; therefore, as at least two fundamental “ reforms and modifications” cannot be conceded, it would have been well had His Honor indicated the direction in which he contemplated moving. Taken as a whole, the speech promises well for the good government of the province; and we have every confidence that Mr. Williamson will realize the hopes of his friends.

To-day we say good bye to the old year. Twelve months have elapsed since we gave our parting f rieud a joyous welcome, and during that brief period a wonderful change has been effected in the material world, around us. Here, at home, this is more apparent than abroad, although the tramping sounds of the world’s onward march come to us now and again, as the surging waves of an ever restless activity lave our shores. Around us the advancement made, in the past year has been beyond the scope of even our sanguine expectations, and our earnest desire is that it may continue. We have all, more or less, aided in the general welfare of the district; and, for ourselves we can guarantee that as “ progress” is the watchword of the future, it shall have our continued support and defence. Twelve months since we expressed a hope that the coming year would treat us better than the one we had just left. Nor have we been disappointed; and to-morrow we shall resume our labours in, the confident hope that as “ our old friends, no doubt, will be true friends,” we shall have no cause to regret our present congratulations. While, therefore, we trust all have enjoyed a Mkrry Christmas, we wish them also a “ Happy New Year.”