The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 201, 2 September 1874, Page 2

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 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.”

Those of the settlers who were permitted an opportunity to be present at the meeting called in Gisborne for the purpose of supporting Mr. Vogel’s Abolition Resolutions, on Tuesday week last, will now have much cause to rejoice at the somewhat unexpected result of the division in the House of Representatives—a result which gave the Government a majority of twentyfive. The resolutions, as our readers are aware, wore three in number, providing first, that, all the provinces of the North Island should be abolished; second, that the seat of Government should be permanently fixed at Wellington, and, third, that the “compact” as it is called, of 1856 (consisting of a resolution of the House in that year that the receipts from land purchases in each province should be provincial instead of general revenue) should be endorsed by Act of Parliament.

It is not difficult to see why Mr. Vogel thought proper to throw down the gauntlet, and challenge the House to a consideration of the three resolutions as a whole. He saw plainly that he could not depend upon carrying the first, if the other two stood in jeopardy of being thrown out; and to carry either of the last two, unaccompanied by the first, would entirely frustrate the object in view. Neither, indeed, can we be surprised at the Premier’s determination not to consider the resolutions separately. He, more than any man, had perspicacity enough to see that propitiation was absolutely necessary as a set off to the suddenness with which so fundamental a revolution in the constitutional fabric of local Government was brought before Parliament. Wellington knows well that

she will gain more by being permanently the seat of Government in the Colony, without her Provincial Council, than by adhering to that institution at the possible risk of losing both. It was also sufficient that she should be satisfied with the “ compact ” as it has stood for the last 18 years; for there is little chance that the proceeds from the sale of the splendid estates of the southern provinces will ever again be allowed to become colonial revenue ; and it would be unsafe to try her weakness against so much determined strength, by endeavouring to upset a financial arrangement—in which she has herself, participated so long—in the hope of sharing in the local distribution of revenue raised in other provinces. The southern members, too, had to be satisfied that this “ compact ” should remain undisturbed, and for the maintenance of which they are quite prepared to resign all present claim to a fixed central gubernation. The first resolution, is, therefore, practically, the only one left for the consideration of the colonists,'outside the influence of party intrigue ; and it is to that one that we would now draw attention.

It would have been far more satisfactory if it had been distinctly stated by Mr. Vogel, as part of the policy of his Government, that the abolition of the Southern provinces was merely a question of time, and would occur so soon as they become impecunious as those of the North, and that financial separation of the two islands was not contemplated. It is true the Premier did say in moving the resolutions that “ years ago he was a warm supporter “ of separation, but circumstances had “long since made that impossible,” but he carefully avoided pledging himself as no longer a supporter of separation, in-so-far that if “ circumstances” again rendered such a step popular and “ possible, he would not be found amongst its advocates. We take it there is but one of two things to be done: either the Southern provinces must also be wiped from the map of political existence, or separation of the islands will be re-demanded by the Southern people as the only, means of maintaining their vitality.

Accepting, then, the Premier’s resolutions as an instalment only, we have much to be satisfied with either from a colonial point of view, or from a consideration of the advantages likely to accrue to us as a district. From a colonial aspect, the change can do no harm, while “ districtally” considered, the abolition of an imperfect, yet, withal, expensive, form of Government must be productive of good. The terdency of the legislation of past years has been in the direction of centralism. Imperceptibly, year by year, has Provincialism declined ; it has lost its colonizing functions, and like other spendthrifts it has wound a chain round its neck, which has at last dragged it down to the last stage of political annihilation. Debt has increased upon debt, until there is hardly a province in the colony that has not had recourse to old “ Materfamilias” in its hour of need for a supply of the needful. It is not, therefore, high time to consider what is to be the end of all this borrowing? If the bankrupt provinces are to keep body and soul together solely through the extraneous aid of the General Government, the sooner thatGovernmentwhich supplies the funds, assumes the control, the better. Is it our earnest belief that under on altered state of affairs the local Government of the country will be much more effectively, and economically carried on than under the present effete and presumptuous aping at the form of Representative Provincialism, without either the power of its action, or the blessings which are supposed to flow from it. “ Year by year,” says Mr. Vogel, “ they (the provinces) “ had to come down with devices for “ enabling them to carry out their “ functions and if it be true that whilst the General Government spent in the North Island alone £2,387,000 in three years, the whole of the Provincial revenue, including the land fund, amounted in the same time to £417,000 only, a continuation of provincialism in its present shape, is hopeless. For outlying districts the change will be productive of great advantages ; and it is a fact worthy of note that the country districts as a rule support Mr. Vogel’s resolutions. Poverty Bay has for some time had under its consideration the advisability of petitioning for separation from that dilapidated old trunk, the Provincial Government of Auckland ; and it is with no small satisfaction we find that there is a possibility of assuming a financial independence of the Queen street blood-suckers.

We are led to believe, from Mr. Vogel’s remarks, that “ the Timaru “ system might be advantageously in- “ troduced into the naturally-defined “ districts of the North Island,” that at length we shall have a form of local government which will enable the settlers to have a more direct voice in and control over their own affairs than they have hitherto had. From a recollection of the hitter wrongs this district has suffered at the hands of an ungrateful Provincial Government, we turn with radiant hope to the succour that is at hand. Any change must be an improvement to Poverty Bay ; and it is with feelings of the utmost cordiality that we endorse the opinions generally expressed in favor of Mr. Vogel’s resolutions. We pray earnestly for the closing career of a bankrupt province not capable of taking care of its own ; and look forward to the coming of a brighter day whose sun is just risen above the horizon.

Postponement. — Messrs. Robertson and Co.’s auction sale of cattle &0., is postponed from to-morrow until further notice.

New Auditob. —Mr. T. M. Bryant is officially gazetted as auditor to the Poverty Bay Highway Board vice Mr. A. F. Hardy resigned. Divine Service—The Rev. Father Simpson will hold divine service at Ormond on Sunday next at 10 o’clock; the Rev. Mr. Root at Gisborne, in the morning, and at Matawhero in the afternoon ; and the Rev. Mr. Murphy at Ormond, in the morning, and at Gisborne in the evening. Postal on Sundays.—We learn that the General Government has sent instructions to the Postmaster in Gisborne to open the Post Office here for two hours on Sundays, when it may happen that a mail steamer arrives and departs on that day. Of course it is understood that the office will only be so open on the latter contingency.

Pabadbs.—A notice appeal's this morning calling the several Militia and Volunteer parades for the current quarter. It will be observed that the usual chronological order of their occurrence has been inverted for convenience’ sake, the country parades coming first, and those in town last.

Library.-—A further supply of books for the Gisborne Library came to hand by the Pretty Jane, and comprise some very valuable works. We understand these form a moiety of the Provincial grant voted in the last Session of the Council. The books are marked as the property of the Government, and are only to be held by the library so long as it is a library. In case that institution ever closes its doors, the books are to be returned to the Provincial Government. This is post-dating the effect of Mr. Vogel’s resolutions with a vengeance.