The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 183, 1 July 1874, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1874.

* 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.”

It is unsatisfactory to find that, periodically, the diurnal record of events proves, conclusively, the existence of many local wants ; although, at the same time, it endorses the opinions we have often expressed in these columns, whilst advocating systems, and drawing outlines of schemes which would greatly ameliorate the inconveniences, from the effects of which the community are still suffering. One other instance occurred in the Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning last, in which the Secretary to the Road Board sought to recover a rate assessed against a person who had sold his interest in the sections rated, before the Assessment Roll was made. We are careful not to tread on tender ground, as judgment haAiTot yet been given ; and contempt of Court is not in our line of business. But we shall not, we trust, be considered as wanting in proper respect to the Court, if we take advantage of this case to improve the occasion, now that public attention is directed towards it; and to re-dress the arguments we have used before. Mr. Cuff for the plaintiff argued that the Road Board had insufficient means at hand for finding out the owner of a property, if there were no occupier on the premises; and so as not to lose the rate altogether, they inserted the individual’s name on the Roll, whom they thought most likely to be either the one or the other; and that if the person so rated did not make his objection to the Board, against the rate, in accordance with the law, regulating the levying of Highway Rates, that that was prima facie evidence of his liability. Of course, Mr. Wilson, for the defendant, argued in an opposite direction ; but, as we have said, we withhold our opinion as to which view we think the more tenable, the case being still sub judice. What we desire to shew now is, that in the absence of the Government opening a branch of the Land Registry Department in Gisborne, it should have been the privilege—not necessarily the duty—of the Road Board to make arrangements in that respect, as would have facilitated its own operations, without any additional cost to its department, and have been a boon to the Ratepayers. We advanced the opinion some time ago, that an official record should exist of the land transactions in the neighborhood ; and weliow repeat our belief that a Register, under the official cognizance of the Board, would greatly expedite business matters in this respect. No person would object to pay a small-fee for the convenience ; while nearly all would gladly avail themselves of the advantage, to say nothing of the value it would be to the Board itself. It may be said that such a work belongs, more properly, to private, or professional men. Not so. Many persons might object to register fheir private affairs in a private office, who, if invited to do so by a recognized body, for the purpose of expediting the public business of the district, would not object. We commend again, this proposal to the Board for their consideration; failing their acceptance of which, no professional agent would go far wrong in keeping a correctly-compiled register of land (if, say, of the town alone) to which all persons might ha ve recourse on payment of a small fee. r For the foregoing reasons, therefore, we have little sympathy with the Road Board if they are cast in-an--adverse judgment, in the case now pending in the Resident Magistrate’s Court.,

Messrs. Robertson & Co. have removed to their new Auction Rooms, Masonic Buildings.—(Advt.) £5 Reward.—Mr. A. F. Hardy offers a reward of £5 for convicting information, relative to the destruction of certain gates and fences in the Pouparae and Kahanui blocks. Trade Report.—Our report, for the past month is not so full as we could wish it, nor ns we will endeavor to make it. Country residents are invited to furnish us, during the month, with any special note of interest, that may come to their notice, and which would prove interesting to distant readers. Gisborne Dramatic Club. —The members of this*, Club'had a successful meeting on Friday evening last, at which a goodly number were present, considering the unpropitious state of the weather. The Rules and Byelaws of the Club were passed, as amended, and the usual pro forma business transacted. It was also decided to have another performance shortly, when we believe a powerful cast will be made for a drama entitled, “ The Seven Clerks,” and that ever-amusing farce “ The Dead Shot.” New Pastor.—The Rev. G. W. Russell, Wesleyan Minister, recently appointed to this district, arrived in the Rangatira on Monday morning last. The rev. gentleman desires us to notify that, until further notice, the services of his Church will be conducted in the Music Hall on Sundays at 11 o’clock in the morning, and at 6.30 in the evening ; also that it is his intention to take early opportunities of ascertaining the requirements of the outlying districts. We congratulate our Wesleyan friends on the successful induction of their pastor; and at the same time cordially bid him welcome to the field of his future ministry.