The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY AUGUST 1, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 192, 1 August 1874, Page 2

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

SATURDAY AUGUST 1, 1874.

1 We shall sell to no mail justice or right:. We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no map justice or right.”

We heartily trust that the election of a new Road Board will be the means of putting a new phase on the state of matters in this district. Now that the past has gone from before us, we are quite content to remember it no more, save and except where it may be useful as a guide by which to avoid a repetition of the errors that belonged to it. We have no desire to keep uselessly open the gaping wounds which old grievances have made; but, it would be impolitic, and unwise, not to permit the teachings of the past to influence our future actions. The new Boardmen will have the advantage of the presence of one of the members of the old Board —Mr. Pahsons—than whom, no settler in the district deserved better treatment at the hands of the Ratepayers than to be placed at the head of the Poll. His acquaintance with the several matters still in abeyance, and the Public Works question in particular, will be of great assistance in getting his co-adjutors into proper trim for business. But still we do trust that the main, road question will be put into a definite shape without delay. Wo confess to much surprise at the supinex-i ness of the country settlers, above all others, are interests ’ n a ’ speedy decision, on this jw»rfer. Mr. Potnteb’s “ expiation” at the Annual Meetings the Board’s position with the Government, relative to the trunk lines—although it was nothing more than can Id be expected—was eminently unsatisfactory. We knew all he told us long before. Of course, the Board, as he stated, will apply for a refund of the outlay already made on these roads ; but what we take to have been its duty was to have urged the Government to a commencement of the work long ago, on an understanding as to refunds which would have left no doubt about the matter. This should occupy the first attentionof the Board just elected, or, failing which, the summer will glide past us again, with all iho troubles of the pT®-“ sent winter to be re-borne next venr. We think there is little to fear in this respect. The lessons of the last few days will have taught both Ratepayers and Boardmen the necessity there is for watchfulness on the one hand, and energy on the other. The new Board have not only the back work of the old Board to pull up, but it will find super-added duties imposed under the new Highways Act, which will give the members little time for repose; and the great desire that has been exhibited to have as full an explanation of affairs as is compatible with, and necessary to, the proper working of democratic institutions, may serve the useful purpose of members recognizing the. existence of, and being somewhat influenced by, public opinion. The dictum laid down by Mr. Poyntf.h, on behalf of the ont-going Board, will, we trust, not be followed in future. The interests of the district demand that public men should set more value on the trust confided to their care than that contained in the contemptuous scorn of the Chairman of a public body, who, foiled and beaten in open ground, took shelter in a positive evasion of his manifest duty ; and declared that he not only does not recognise the right of’ the Ratepayers to call into question the way in which affairs have been conducted, but that “he neither required appro- “ bation, nor feared censure !” There is a significance about this loose immorality which, we hope will not be taken into account bv our new members. We do not believe the mem-

bers, generally, of the Board just gone out, shared fin the utter disregard of public opinion, expressed by their Chairman—so do we not believe that those recently elected will expose their total unfitness for their office by subscribing to it in any way whatever. It is a matter for much gratification that the new Board have unanimously elected Mr. Hardy to be their Chairman. Official etiquette places that honorupon the man who heads the poll; lint, we think, Mr. Parsons consulted the ,:trne interests of the district in resigning the dignity to one in every wp.y worthy of it; In Mr. HARbYljmphairmanship we are prepared te g.HWtotee a discontinuance of the indolent ■’JPutoowtey of his predecessor ; while we shall be largely benefitted in having secured the services of a gentleman well versed in the necessities of the district over which he presides, and to the solution of which ho is able to bring that special business aptitude so necessary to the proper discharge of public duties. We compliment the Ratepayers of the Poverty Bay Highway District on the thrice happy exchange.