The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 268, 1 May 1875, Page 2

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

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1875.

“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.”

If it required anything to justify the objection raised against the election of deputies at the public meeting in November last; if any illustration were necessary to prove the utter inutility of a deputation at all to work out the affairs of this district, it is to be found in the “ confusion worse confounded ” that resulted at the meeting on the 16th of last month, when a few over-zealous gentlemen undertook to inflate themselves with a little brief authority before the Hon. Sir Donald McLean, and, with a species of false pretence, to set themselves up as representatives of the settlers. Had these gentlemen not have misrepresented their true position ; had they been content to lay aside their purloined plumage—to have appeared as of the true barn door type, and not as grandiloquent peacocks, all glitter and feather —had they, in short, have shewn that they were equal to the emergency, in any sense, much might been forgiven them; but to usurp an authority, specifically taken from them at the November meeting, and then to show nothing but abject failure, certainly demands something more than a flippant explanation at their hands. There are one or two names among the deputation which we would gladly have seen left out; and we can hardly think that these gentlemen understood the real object of the interview with the Native Minister, but there they are, and are able to speak for themselves. We cannot refrain from writing plainly on this matter, because we have strenuously opposed the formation of a deputation from the first, and we are sorry to find that the results we foretold from the beginning have come to pass. But as the deputation assumed this duty, let us ask these gentlemen if they do not think an exhibition of courtesy is due to the settlers in the way of explanation ? Or are they so much chagrined at failure that they cannot brook a second edition ? They cannot, certainly, escape the responsibility of their self-imposed task ; and we, accordingly, shall proceed to review what has been reported that they did do. Primarily, the road question seemed to have resolved itself into the acceptance of a small parochial grant of money to open up a quarry with, rather than ascertaining the true position of the arterial roads, and the purpose for which they had been reserved for colonial control. This should have been the question of all others to have tested the sincerity of the Government, upon which it was not competent for a deputation to take further action at the time, but which, at a public meeting would have assumed a very different phase. The other questions, as they arose, seemed to have been utterly devoid of any decided or practical result. Everything is surrounded with a halo of promise—promises cut from the Ministerial pie crust —made only to be broken. But, perhaps, the most important questions of all, are those that are rather the outcome of the meeting with Sir Donald M'Lean than forming part of the business of the deputation—always supposing that they ever had any business at all. Sir Donald M'Lean said that: —

“ He Sir Donald, hoped these few'exftjanations would be satisfactory ; and he , cbuld “ assure the deputation and settlers generally,] “ th it all the matters brought. undcr/hiVcOn-l “ sideration should receive the serious itten-1 “ tion of hie Government.” e \ J Now we ask any intelligent settler if he could think it possible that a deputation should quietly hear these

figures read and allow them to pass unchallenged ? Where are the native lands for which so many thousands have been paid ? If they are worth the money why are they not in the market for bond fide settlement ? Sir Donald said that the money paid for Patutahi was included in that sum. So, also, we suppose was the price paid for the Gisborne township. Is there no credit side to the account ? The Hick’s Bay road is utterly useless in its present state, and, although a resolution was passed at the November meeting requesting a further outlay on it, nothing was said by the deputation. As to the Opotiki road, the less said about that the better. Atmore complete bungle and squandering of public money never was made ; and it could only have been befwe such a deputation as then confronted him, that Sir Donald McLean would have had the hardihood to say that it required another £3OOO to cover the original muddle. On the Mahia, Te Reinga, and Ormond roads, small sums have been spent by the Government, but all these with the Arai bridge, (yet to be built) thrown in, only foot up to £3,303, to say nothing of the injustice of deoiting to the Poverty Bay district money which has been spent on an area extending from Wairoa to Opotiki. When we peruse the foregoing statement of a Cabinet Minister, three propositions present themselves. First: Sir Donald McLean either desired to throw oil on the troubled waters, by quoting what he thought correct, or, Second : He had been misinformed as to the statistical expenditure made in the district; or, Third/ He did not know what he was talking about. If the deputation failed to do its duty the Native Minister must, in some way, be given to understand that his explanations are the very reverse of satisfactory. £40,000 have not “ been spent in the districtand Sir Donald’s cruel allusion to the “ authorized expenditure ” of £5OOO for Waipaoa bridge and £4OOO for public buildings, as money having been spent, shewed with what indifference he treated a deputation too pachydermatous to feel the barbs of his sarcasm. Our contemporary reports that: “ Mr. G. R. Johnson said the deputation w would prefer the vote of £4OOO to be spent “on roads rather thon on public buildings. “ If the buildings were erected, and an extra “£4OOO were spent on roads, well and good.” “ Sir Donald said he would consult the “ Minister of Public Works, and see if the vote “ could be altered.”

Our reporter heard nothing of this ; but assuming it to be correct, we trust Mr. Johnson will not remain under the imputation here cast upon him, as a public man. Nothing can be more flagrant; and, we repeat, nothing more brimful of danger to a community, than an autocracy of power, and an indefensible assumption of authority by individuals. Mr. Johnson has not contradicted the report, but we hope he will be able to do so, and, in the meantime, we refrain from further remark than that, — considering the utter uselessness of spending £4OOO and no more on the roads, and, for that money to be diverted from a purpose of pressing necessity, the erection of public buildings (for the hasty completion of which a petition has been sent to the Government) at the instance of an unauthorized member of the community in his private capacity —such conduct presents a very grave aspect, and one which should be counteracted, without delay, by the unanimous voice of the settlers.

Amongst other matters requiring the attention of our representative in the coming Session of the Provincial Council, is that of the existing state of steam communication between Gisborne and Auckland. Since the arrival of the Go-a-head on this coast it cannot be said that matters have improved. Captain M‘Gillivray’s energy is commendable in running his boat with as little delay in still water as possible, and we suppose he is acting under instructions ; but Gisborne cannot afford to be made a cat’s paw of any longer. The interests of this port are set aside entirely to make way for the live stock trade from Napier. On several occasions up and down, the Go-a-head has merely—nay, barely— stayed long enough to exchange mails, as well as causing much disappointment to passengers. On her last trip from Auckland she ran by the port, we believe from necessity, and how did she make up for it ? By coming on here to fill up her time for some 40 hours, while a cargo was preparing for her in Napier. She left on Friday morning with the Auckland mail—-pre-determined not to call on her upward trip—and finally leaving Napier last Tuesday, after four days’ detention. This state of things cannot continue. If public money has to be paid, we have a right to expect a benefit from it. As matters stand now the money paid to the A.S.P. Company is more to subsidize the carrying trade between Napier and Auckland than anything else. We trust, therefore, Mr. Johnson will remedy this evil before any new vote is made; and that the Government will enforce some conditions in any future contract, which, it appears do not exist at present.

“ Upwards of £40,000 has been spent in the district, as the following shew .— figures would Purchase of Native Lands £21,500 0 0 Hicks’ Bay Road 3,744 0 0 Opotiki Road 3,000 0 0 Opotiki Road to complete 8,000 0 0 Te Reinga Road to complete 2,000 0 0 Mahia Road, Arai Bridge, and Main Road 1,303 0 0 Waipaoa Bridge 5,000 0 0 Public Buildings 4,000 0 0 Total £43,547 0 0