The Standard. (PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY. AND SATURDAY.) THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 134, 12 February 1874, Page 2

The Standard. (PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY. AND SATURDAY.)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1874.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right : We shall deny to no mnn justice or right : We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

On Tuesday night the long expected steamer Pretty Jane came to an anchor in the Bay, and yesterday morning the town of Gisborne was alive with the long string of Government officials and others who were passengers bv her. His Honor the Superintendent, as has been already reported, is on an official visit to the East Coast Settlements, and, after being interviewed at Caulton s Masonic Hotel for some considerable time, started for Ormond, accompanied by Captain Richardson, for the purpose of consulting the convenience of the settlers in convening a public meeting

to address them, and hear an expression of their opinion on the many subjects engaging attention. Notably amongst these are:—The creation of a Town Board: Improvement of the jail: Extension of police system to the coast and outlying districts: An augmentation of police force in the town: Harbour improvements: Appointment of a pilot: Steam subsidy: Increase of Provincial Grant for Public Works: The application of local assessments to trunk lines of road, proclaimed by-the Government as beyond the control of the province: Education: subsidy towards the development of local Oil Springs: Immigration. His Honor should also be urged upon to move the General Government with reference to the Telegraph and Post Office, and to make provision for local Registration, and Crown Lands Offices. His Honor is already" favorably impressed with the district, and has taken care to freely circulate his own cognition of its wants. Now is the settlers’ opportunity; but it must not be forgotten that there are promises made years ago by Mr. Gillies, remaining yet unfulfilled : and the most Mr. Williamson can do is to promise. Nevertheless it is a matter of some consideration that the present Superintendent is placed in that position in which he is both able and willing to do us justice. The presence of the Executive, too, in Gisborne at this juncture, will act as a powerful incentive to the Government as a whole to support and carry, if possible, through the Council, those measures most conducive to the interests of a district fast rising in power, influence, and wealth.

The Superintendent’s attention should be drawn to the unsatisfactory position of the Education question, or rather, we may explain, that part of it which refers to the collection of the Rate ; the nolle prosequi conduct of the Executive, and the arbitrary stoppage of the salary of the Inspector of Sheep, by a subordinate Treasury official, because he (Mr. Meldrum) happened not to have paid the bond for which he had pledged himself in backing up the Collector’s honesty. It is eminently unsatisfactory to know that the Government have not made any further move with respect to Hood’s defalcations in the Education rates, than to demand an instant payment by' the Bondsmen of the amounts for which they became responsible. These, in the first place, do not cover the sum of his peculations ; and in the second, the Government telegraphed to the effect that Hood should be criminally prosecuted, taking the matter, in fact, out of the hands of the Bondsmen ; the consequence is that the fellow is abroad still, and. doubtless, considers himself an injured individual.

The stoppage of Mr. Meldrum’s salary by an irresponsible accountant, with an ostentatious threat —that “he is not quite certain whether it is not his duty to report him (Mr. Meldrum), to the Govern incut,” because the bond had not been paid, for many good and valid reasons, conveys an intentional and intolerable insult. ’Tis true Mr. Lusk is receiver of Education rates, as wellas Provincial Accountant ; but Mr. Lusk, as receiver of Education rates (whose proper duty was to represent the non-payment of the bond to the Government) has certainly no right to instruct himself as Provincial Accountant to withhold the salary of a Government official, without consulting his superior—if lie did consult the Provincial Treasurer, it only shows how unwise it is to allow subordinate officials to so unduly inflate their communications with first personal pronouns. We trust that these subjects, among others, will receive timely attention.