The Standard AND PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 186, 11 July 1874, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1874.

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

If there be one subject more than another that pre-eminently demands the attention of Batepayers at the annual meeting on Tuesday next; if there be one phase in the condition of the Poverty Bay District Highway Board, upon which the publie ought to be definitely informed, it is that most unsatisfactory one—the Gladstone and other roads. Nay, we would go further and say that that question is the one by which the outgoing Board will be judged ; and the proper understanding of which should be a recommendation of candidates in seeking the suffrages of the people. W h<"dtoti». somewhat, in the deliberate expression of our opinion that very few persons in the district do really know the exact position that the Hoad Board stands in with respect to these roads, and the General Government on account of them; but we are bound to express it, and, painful, if, indeed, not humiliating, though it be, the Board itself ranks among the number. It is simply impossible that any number of intelligent gentlemen, undertaking to manage the affairs of this district, could, with a thorough knowledge of the subject,

go on spending the local rates in improving the property of the colony, without being, first of all, assured of the bond f des of the Government in recouping the outlay. That they are not acquainted with the details of this question is evident from the fact that, (unless very recently) no official communication has passed between the Board and either Government with respect to it; (at any rate no public intimation has been made of it) and the absurd method pursued, is against any such interpretation. It is not our purpose to say what would have been the proper course to have pursued ; but it is our duty to tell the ratepayers plainly and roundly that their rates are being sp< nt. and Ijpve been spent, on a work, which it. is not within the province of the Board to undertake on its own responsibility, and one.which no local body, with so small a sum at its command as a District Highway Board can hope to have, should have commenced without first of all opening up negotiations with the Central Government. According to Mr. Bold’s calculation—which differs immaterially with Mr. Sheet’s —it will take £15,000 to properly pitch and form the one main road to Ormond, leaving out, altogether, the branch, lines from Makaraka to the Ferry, and from Matawhero to Pipiwakn Bush. Allowing that it costs no more, let the ratepayers be fully satisfied where the money is to come from to do this one most necessary work ; and if the money that has been spent on the three lines ' will be .repaid by the General Government. This is a duty incumbent on them ; and if they do not take advantage of the legitimate means at hand to ascertain the particulars of certain points on which it is desirable that information should be given, they will only have themselves to. blame. Doubtless we shall have a triumphant reference to the unexpected windfall which—while in a state of impecuniosity some two years ago — came to the Board’s Treasury, in the shape of refunds on account of the Waerenga-a-hika contracts; and be told that because, they got the one they would (also) obtain the other ; but the less said about that, in justification of the present pot-luck style of conducting business, the better. For the credit’s sake of the Board we advise them not to shelter their present action under so fallacious an argument, and “do evil that good may come.” But even admitting that all the Board thinks likely to occur, with reference to refunds, will occur ; allowing that the milk of official kindness —in the shape of hard cash—will flow freely from the Treasury kine, what then ? How far will a knowledge of that uncertain fact take us through the mud of the present winter, and the dust of the coming summer? What great comfort is there in knowing that, although the General Government may at last undertake the expenditure necessary on these roads, it was the essential duty of the Road Board to have brought this matter to a head before this ; and that for all practical purposes of inland traffic, the last three years have been utterly wasted? That the Road Board has not done any good we do not for a moment impute ; but it is not so much what it has done that justifies it, as what it has left undone, that condemns it. It is has been very “ great in “ small things ;” but in the “ weightier “ matters of the law,” it has been very small indeed ! When Mr. Ormond — delusively known as East Coast Agent of the General Government—replied to the Road Board, in answer to its request that the Colony should build the present bridge over the Karaua Creek (we write from memory) to the effect that the General Government considered an extra amount of liberality had been shewn by it towards this district, and that any further outlay of money on our roads, &c., .was out of the question, why, we ask, was that opportunity not taken advantage of to repel the gross mis-statement, and make it a lever” to bring the question Post Officb.—The new Post. Office building in Gisborne is now occupied, Mr. Cheeseman, the new Postmaster, having arrived by the Pretty Jane from Auckland, on Wednesday last. Bachbldeb’s Pantascopb. — Mr. Harry Eastwood, Manager for Bachelder’s Pantascope, of the Overland route through America, was a passenger per the Pretty Jane on Wednesday last. He proceeded to Napier on Thursday for the purpose of making arrangements for the arrival of the Company in the Southern Cross. Mr. Eastwood says they will perform there for a week or two, and purpose playing one or two nights in Gisborne on their return this road to Auckland. Divine Sebvices.—The Rev. Mr. Murphy requests us to state that Divine Service will be held in the Court House to-morrow morning, at 11 o’clock. The Rev. Mr. Russell also conduct services in the Music Hjill every Sunday morning and evening until further notice. Ecclesiastical. — We learn that the Bishop of Waiapu is expected to-day per Rangatira. The Rev. Mr. Murphy who arrived yesterday in the Southern Cross from Auckland, has held telegraphic communication with the Bishop, with a view, we believe, to being inducted to this Cure. The Rev. gentleman is, we understand, an M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin.