The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 229, 9 December 1874, Page 2

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 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.”

Captain Gudgeon, recently, in reply to a request made by the Chairman of the Poverty Bay District Road Board that the new magazine might be built at some greater distance from the town, than the Block-house in Gisborne where the munitions of war are generally kept, gave his reasons against the adoption of such a course, inasmuch as it would be highly irregular to keep powder in any place not under the immediate control of armed men. The gallant Captain also gave it as his opinion that a good deal of misconception and misapprehension existed as to the explosive qualities of bullets wrapped up in casings containing powder ; that the damage to human life was reduced to nil in contemplation of the non-spontaneity of these little things; and that even in the case of ignition, experience had found them to be quite harmless. We believe every word Captain Gudgeon has written, simply because ■he believes it himself, as the result of his own experience, and because we are not able to refute it. But is not the question a little understated as replied to bj’ Captain Gudgeon? If we were, through life, to estimate evils by the sole guage of present consequences, we might often compound with ourconsciencies in a very pleasant manner. We will even admit, as well as believe that the circumstances of the time—a minimum of danger owing to the absence of any necessity for keeping a large assortment of that peculiar kind of stock-in-trade on hand, and a sparse population—are in support of Captain Gudgeon's theory ; but facts must follow theories also At any rate we have no desire to put this military explanation to the proof in order to increase our practical knowledge of explosiveness, by testing the accuracy of what has been stated. What we desire to show now, is, that

if a magazine is built any where within the boundaries and compass of what may become a large community, the fact of it being under the “ immediate control of armed men ” would hardly be a satisfactory proof of lessening the danger in case of accident. For the purpose of guarding it against any ordinary accident “ a corporal and two” may be “quantum stuff,” but what protection would thegallant little army, all told, now under Captain Gudgeon’s command, be to the inhabitants in the event of an explosion when, (as is to be the case so soon as the present Native Minister is removed to look after a people of a “ deeper dye ”) the magazine has some hundreds. of barrels of loose gunpowder—i.e. not in cartridges—in it ? If a magazine is to be built —nay, if it be worth building—at all, we may naturally look forward to stores, of a far more dangerous description than may be o», hand now, being stored there. If such be necessary, it might also be under “the immediate control of armed men ” farther away from the centre of population ; and against such an insane and useless increase of the risk of Jife and property, as that now proposed, we enter our most unqualified protest.

We are not at all surprised to hear that the Pretty Jane will not be such a frequent visitor to the inner 1 arbor, unless the rocks which obstruct the fair way are removed. There has hardly been an occasion lately on which that steamer has not met with some accident, on arrival or departure, thus causing serious delay and loss of time, as well as an unprofitable expense in repairs. On her last visit she had a hole knocked in her bottom, which delayed her nearly two days here, and necessitated a further delay in Auckland of some three days more; the estimated cost of which, added to loss of fares, time &c., amount during the last 12 months to some hundreds of pounds. We cannot expect any Company to run a boat at such a loss as that; and it is to be hoped that the Provincial Government will see to this most pressing matter at once. The expense cannot be very much ; and the A.S.P. Company we learn have offered, with commendable promptitude and generosity, to subscribe £ 10 towards the work. This offer, the Government can hardly put the Province in the humiliating position to accept, but something must be done and that quickly unless we are to be left entirely without steam communication. Had the Provincial Government saved the expense of Mr. Tunks’ mission to Poverty Bay; and have allowed the erection of a few paltry immigration barracks to be conducted here, instead of importing a contractor from Auckland, the money would have gone a long way towards defraying the cost. Cannot the Road Board make a stir in the matter, and save us from our friends ?