The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 237, 9 January 1875, Page 2

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1875.

“We sliali sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no men justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

It may appear to be strange, as it is, no doubt, humiliating to make the confession, but it is, nevertheless, true that we have to depend upon a foreign supply for most of the articles of domestic food, the latest addition to which is mutton ; a cargo cf 550 sheep having arrived to order on butchers’ account by the Pretty Jane from Napier on Wednesday last. Of Course a good supply of stock is in the district, but it might as well be at Kamtschatka if the price per carcass is a margin above that which has to be paid for the imported article. Betaile; s say that they are forced into outside markets oil account of the high prices ruling at home for an indifferent supply ; and, possibly, they are not to be blamed if, as we learn, the splendid frame sheep recently to hand, are a sample of the meat the Hawke’s Bay fioekowners are prepared to give us at a figure that will enable them to compete profitably with our own. The foregoing facts open up the whole question of the cost of living in Gisborne, as between the producer and consumer, not only in the item of butcher’s meat, but of nearly every other article of daily consumption. On the one hand we are met by an insufficient supply, and on the other by prices that are, beyond all question, too high. Our sheepfarmers may not yet have such a surplus of stock as necessitates a frequent culling for the butcher, or as compels them to force sales which they deem to be unprofitable for the purpose of keeping outside trade from getting a footing. The new country, too, that is constantly being opened up and stocked, rather favors the maintenance of high prices than otherwise, and it is possible that for some time to come, sheepfarmers will be able to dictate their own terms; but this is only a question of time, especially when we find that the A uckland and Thames markets, which have been bountifully supplied from this and Hawke’s Bay for a long period, are closed, at any rate for a season, against further importations. Let these marke’s remain closed, with declining quotations in the value of wool; let Hawke’s Bay producers continue to cultivate our market, and the end is not far off.

But this brings us to the other side of the question : Is the carcass price of meat too high ? This is, as we Lave said, a question between the consumer and producer, determined chiefly by the middle men —the butchers. Certain it is that so long as the cost of Hving is augmented by high retail prices, the producer, knowing well that the consumer will not reap the benefit of a fall, keeps up his price, and the middle men get the lion’s share of the advantage, who, in their turn, saddle their complaint on the first cause — the producer. Let us also ask: Is the retail price too high? The consumer's reply will, naturally, be in the affirmative, irrespective of causes; but taking facts as they are, we incline to think that the cause, in this instance, does not justify the effect. If such sheep as those just to hand from Napier, said to run when in good condition, from 70 to 80 lbs on the shambles, can he bought at the rate of 10s a head, it is an argument in favor of our views that the important item of meat is a serious consideration at retail prices which range from-id to CI per lb.; again, if they cannot be bought in the homo market at the same figure, at whose door does the fault lie ? t hen take lamb, which,properly, may be considered a luxury by some. This is usually sold by the quarter, during the seaon at from 4s to 5s retail, for little more than as many pounds in weight. Undoubtedly sheepfarmers would sell, such animals cheaper, if the retail price was lower, while the bi te..ers say they "lire forced to the a’terSadi’.e.of high prices, because the sb’ pfannere demand exorbitant rates. ;

Tenders —The time for receiving tender® for the lease of section 22, Ormond, i® extended to Wednesday the 13lh inst. Native Interpreter.—W. H. Tucker, Esq., has been appointed an lutrepreter under the Native Land Act 1873. Napier Borough. Elections.—A recent proclamation in the General Government Gazette, fixe® Monday the 18th of January, instant, for the election of Councillor®. Dental.—Mr. 11. 0. Wilson, who i® on a professional visit to Gisborne, announces that he can be consulted on the matter of teeth drawing, during the next ten days at the Masonic room®, adjoining the Ma-onic hotel. Mr. Lockr —Thi® gentleman waa a passenger by the Pretty Jane from Napier on Wednesday last; he purpose® atariing on an official visit to the East Cape, and other coast settlements, on .Monday next, in company with Captain Porter.

Poverty Bay Races.—Tho date of the coming meeting is announced in our local contemporary as being altered from Sunday and Monday iheTch and Bih February, to Thursday and Friday, the 4th and sth February, The exciting races between Posts and Rails are st.il!, it appears, to take place.

Hawke’s Bay Times.—An announcement wa? made in the last issue of the H. B. Times that, a 4 it cannot compete wi h its daily contemp Farit®, it would cease publication after the 31st December.

Telegraph.—The pole® for the line between Gisborne and Wairoa, aro now being laid on the ground from the Gisborne end. The Fairy brought the last instalment, an I landed them at the Murewai on Thursday moruing. Mr Bold wiil arrive shortly from the south, and expects to open up lelog ajhic communication early in March. Captain Lloyd.—We learn that Captain Lloyd is to be transferred to the steamer Taranaki. It i® pleasing at all times to hear of the success of one’s friends, and this form® no exception to the rule. The command of a steamer like the Taranaki is, doubtless, a step in the scale of promotion, and as such, we congratulate Captain Lloyd thereon, as also the company in having in its service an officer in every way worthy of the confidence of the shareholders. We rejoice at Captain Lloyd s good fortune, and wish him every success, still, we cannot but regret, as we ®h:4l feel, his loss. Sunday Services.—Wesleyan Services will be conducted at the School-house, Gisborne, to-morrow, morning and evening. The Rev. W. 11. Root will (J) V.) hold Divine Service at St. Andrew’s Church to-morrow morning and evening and at Matawhero in the afternoon at the usual hours. The Rev. J. Murphy wiil conduct Divine Service on Sunday next, at Ormond in the morning at 11 o’clock, and at Gisborne in the evening at 7 o'clock.

Our Paris Letter.—Determined to the reading matter of the Standard as discursive and interesting as possible, we have negotiated with our Pari® Correspondent for a regular, periodical, transmission of such gossiping information as is not usually found in telegrams from the Continent. The first instalment appears this morning; and we regret that the space at our disposal precludes, us from giving the letter in full; it Will be continued on Wednesday. Oysters.—A recent proclamation under “The Oyster Fishery Act” declares that between the Ist of January and the 31st of Marcn in each year it. shall not be lawful to take or catch for sale any rock oyster®, whether between high or low water marks or not within the following boundries, under a penalty not exceeding £2O. “Onthe North East and West by the Coast line and the Islands adjacent thereto. On the South by the River Mokau to its source, thence by a right line running from the source of the Mokau to the point where the Ngahuinga or Tuhua, the principal tributary of the Wanga nui River, is intersected by the thirty-ninth parallel of south latitude; thence eastward by the thirty-ninth parallel of south latitude to the point, where that parallel of latitude cut.® the east coast of the Nor; hern I® an 1 of New Zealand.*’ After that maps of ihe North Island should be in request. Gable End Hotel.—“ Dan Munn,” like his father, in days lang syne, is an institution in the land, and we are g'ad to see t hat his new and commodious hotel, at Waitotura is open for t ravellers. The select ion of the spot on which the “ Gable End” hostelry is built, is a very judicious one. It is pleasantly situated at the entrance of a snug little bay, about 23 miles from Gisborne, and affords a comfortable and convenient halting place f r travellers either up or down the coast. We wish Dan Secundus every success. Turanga Stakes.—The following horses were entered for tho Turanga Stake’s Handicap on Thursday evening last:—Mr. P. Breingan’s skysail, 5 years; Mr. Caulton names Creeping Jinney, ag.nl ; Mr. T. Goldsmith's Rainbow, aged; Mr. J. Munn’s Ben Nevis, aged. Shark —Mackey,the ferryman at the Gisborne crossing of the Turanganui river, succeeded in landing a shark measuring oft, lin. on Wednesday last. The monster was caught by a fishing hook, which was out at the time from the end of the wharf. Bathers had better take note of the circumstance. Genkbal Government Buildings.—We learn that, plans are in preparation for the erect inn of t-hebuildingsforthe General Government Departments in Gisborne, and that the woric of their erection will soon be proceeded with. It will be a great shame if the local tradesmen here have not an opportunity afforded them of competing for the work ; and it will be a lasting disgrace if that non-de-script out-house called, by courtesy, a Post Office, which at present, disfigures one of the most, prominent posi ions in the town is not either pulled down, sold, or burned, before the erection of the new pile. Street Architecture.—We have been favored with an inspection of the plan of the addition anti alterations Messrs Bradley & Stegguil have decided on making to th dr already commodious hotel tor the use of the Poverty Bay Club. A suite of three rooms will be built over the billiard room, with an entrance from the street by private staircase. These will consist of a club room in front, running flush wi’h the present balcony, and a dining room behind off of which is to be a cloak room through which communication can be had with the other parts of the hotel. A side door from the Club room affords egress to the balcony and commercial room. The lantern roof of the billiard room will have to be taken away, and side windows inserted looking into the Court yard. The alteration as sh<iwn on the plan will be a great improvement to the street, and will make the Albion Hotel second to few in the Colony. Mr. Nasmith has also decided upon building a shop and premises up to the proper line of roa I, which may be the means of inducing all the other frontages to be built on shortly. Deeds Registry Oftice.—lntimation habeen ret oived from the Gon *ral Goverum.-nt by a gentleman resident in the Bay, that the question of opening a Registration office in Gis’Mjrne, foe registering deeds has been duly considered, and tho Government is not advised i hat it is at present necessary to t»ke that step. We wish to goodness the Government would look after it® own business, and not trust ®o much to the opinion and advice of a lot of red t.apo juniors, who cannot, possibly, know anything of what our requirements in that direction are. On the contrary, we think the sooner the Government is at. : vised w do its duty by this district th* better.