The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 264, 14 April 1875, Page 2

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1875.

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

Two or three different subjects simultaneously introduce themselves to our notice, this morning, each one of which, possessing a separate interest, requires a special leader to do justice to it, but which must, nevertheless, be relegated to some future date for further consideration. Decidedly the most important question, or series of questions, rather, are those involved in the promise of the Honorable Sir Donald McLean to meet the settlers of Poverty Bay to confer on matters intimately connected with their welfare. That promise, we are glad to say, is on the point of being fulfilled, inasmuch as the deputation, appointed in November last, are about to take the. initiative by interviewing Sir Donald on the subject. It should be an useless task for us to go over the ground again which admits of no fresh argument, and presents no new features. The position of our affairs to-day, as they stand in their relation to both the General and Provincial Governments, is the same as when we left it some months ago; there is no alteration, and the best that can be said is that matters have not grown any worse. But, so that no excuse can be made by any, we again draw attention to those questions which, by whomsoever they are to be ultimately considered, are of the most pressing moment. Categorically, they stand thus: “ Roads,” particularly the three trunk lines, proclaimed by the Governor under the Public Works Act. “ Patutahi,” “Waipaoa and other bridges,” “ Government Paddock,” including Burial Reserve, “ Government Buildings,” for which a sum of £4OOO was voted last year. “ Quarantine Reserve,” “ Harbor,” “East Coast Mail Service,” including East Cape andMahia. “ Registration of Electors.” “ Appointment of Justices of the Peace, “ Deeds Registration Office.” The list is a long one, whose bulky proportions may, from a superficial point of view, be thought to present too formidable an aspect to be entertained at all, and be the means of rather hurrying Sir Donald away, than impressing him favorably with the moderate demands of the settlers. We do not believe this. But the situation is a critical one ; and will require all the intelligent energy that can be obtained to urge, successfully, the claims that Poverty Bay has upon the Government of the Colony. We do not suggest in advocating a personal meeting between the Native Minister and the settlers, that a discussion should take place, at any rate not such an one as is ordinarily understood by the term. Such a method would be at once unseemly and impolitic, since, at the best, little more can be expected at the hands of a Minister representing one department only of the Government, than that a fair indication of the feeling of the Cabinet on general questions mav be given, and that particular ones will secure his active support in laying them before his co-adjutors in Wellington. That Sir Donald McLean will accede to this request, a tolerably fair belief may be entertained ; and that the settlers will be infinitely better satisfied to hear, personally from himself, his views on the various questions submitted to him, than to receive them through the filtrating process of a deputation, may be accepted as a certainty, about which there cannot be two opinions. Of course it is impossible to predict what turn events may take at such a meeting, or what color may be given to each question as it arises ; but there will, at any rate, be a kind of positive satisfaction in knowing that however much the district may be wanting in governmental consideration, we have done our duty—by adhering to the first principles of success—in using the best means at our command to help ourselves, and not, as lazy waiters on Providence, call upon the gods to help us while we remain inactive. Our confidence is great iu the belief that if every man be at his post, it will be the means of

placing the affairs of the district in a far more understandable and satisfactory position than they have ever been in before.

Since the above, was in type, we were informed by a gentleman of the deputation that Sir Donald McLean has declined to meet the settlers in public. This is much to be regretted. We are aware that time is a valuable item in the hon. gentleman’s engagements, but we canuot see in what way a meeting of the settlers themselves will occupy more time than that of a deputation ; and we most respectfully, nevertheless warmly, beg to differ from the statement which, we learn, has reached Sir Donald’s ear, that the public will be just as well satisfied with the latter as the former. The public will not be as well satisfied ; and it is well that Sir Donald McLean should bo told so in the most unequivocal manner possible.