The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1876.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 420, 18 October 1876, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1876.

” 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.’’

Were it not that the colony has become used to big figures in connection with its debt, and the seeming impossibility for any government, now-a-days, to frame its estimates without having recourse to further borrowing, the Financial Statement of the new Ministry—from which we gave extracts in our last—-would strike terror to the hearts of seriously reflective men. Major Atkinson, in effect, says : —“ The cards are dealt, and we “ must play the game out.” His words are:—“l wish I could inform “ the committee that it was unneces- “ sary to ask for further borrowing “ this year, but that, I regret to say, “ is practically impossible. It would “ be so manifestly unwise to stop at “ this juncture the important works “ now approaching completion, that 1 “ do not he.sitate to ask for further “ funds to continue them.” And we quite agree with him, it is “ practically “ impossible ” for these political 100 players to discontinue the chances of that fascinating game, where there is much to gain, and but little to lose. So many of their 1.0. Us are in the “pool” that “unlimited, with club

“ law ” they think may give them a chance ; if they lose the}’ will issue more paper, if they win, they retire. (dis)gracefully, like their chief gambler, Sir Julius, accompanied by the anathemas of their dupes and victims. Major Atkinson is imbued with the true gambler’s spirit, who, finding his resources from within are insufficient, “ does not hesitate. ” to ask for another million. Only another million! And this million does not represent the full borrowing necessities of the Government, for, it will be seen, he continues, “ that I have in- “ eluded in my available balance, the I “ proceeds of the (other) one million “ debentures recently disposed of in “ London.” That makes two millions, for the money is not yet all to hand, although the debentures are sold ; and then we are told that the £BOO,OOO (little short of another million) of Imperial guaranteed debentures will not be sold, but advances will be obtained upon them “ as occasion may require,” —that is, each time the Ministry is “ loo’d.” These figures foot up to the nice little sum of two million eight hundred thousand pounds— a mere flea bite to New Zealand—as an extraneous sowce oj supply. And if we add to that the total amount of revenue to 30th June next, which is estimated at £2,096,850, we find that, in one way or another, no less a sum than £4,896,850, if figures mean anything, is asked for, to be at the disposal of the Government during the next nine months, to be gamed for, hazarded, or wasted, as they think proper. We have not, however, produced these figures for the mere purpose of cavilling with them. It should be the object of all men to draw such practical deductions from the affairs of the state, as will lend a powerfulaid in learning the lessons that political economy unfold to us in the highways of experience. From the figures before us, then, we learn that this is an opportunity, possibly the last, which the settlers of Poverty Bay, and the East Coast generally, will have to enter into the scramble, and try to filch something for themselves. Major Atkinson says : —“ Of the “ available balance of £1,658,146, a “ large amount is required for public “ works already under contract," and it is certain that none of those works are in this district. And again, “we “ propose to ask for appropriations to “ the extent of about two millions, “ most of which will be required within “ the year." In this latter, some of the public works that are so urgently required, and which have been so often promised to us, may be included, but, whether or not, it is our opportunity now, through our representative, to urge, and fight for, if need be, a fair proportion of these huge sums of money. Major Atkinson also says that “ additional ways and means to “ the amount of £350,000 will be re- “ quired to carry on public works and “ immigration during the current “ yearand he proposes to spend the million he asks authority to borrow, thus : Additional ways and means, £350,000; provincial contracts and liabilities, £250,000; and £400,000 “ for such expenditure as the House “ may direct.”

Now it seems to us that this is a golden chance for the member for the East Coast to come to the front, and let us see what stuff he is made of. We are far from believing that the whole duty of a member of Parliament is to be gauged by the conduct of the individual who has been so happily deposed from this Electorate, namely, a back-stairs, soupkitchen, influence with individual cronies of the Government ; or that it is comprised in successful log rolling ; an obsequious abnegation of dignity and self respect; or a cowardly forfeiture of one’s claim to a measure of right and justice. Indeed we have bad too much of this. In the person of Mr Read, as the representative of a class not at all to be envied, the Government have nurtured the habit of looking down upon Poverty Bay as a catspaw to be used or spurned as occasion requires. But, happily, the days of the “ old identities ” are done, and we want men now who will fight a little more for the public weal, and not entirely for themselves; men whose sordid actions are not based so much upon the meretricious calculations of 121 per cent, as upon the benefit they can be to their fellows ; men whose souls are above low trickstering, and truckling to big men in power, because they are big. Through the familiarity which always breeds contempt, Sir Donald M’Lean has, by means of his intimacy with at least one individual in Poverty Bay, imported into the Government a feeling of dislike, if not of obstructiveness, to the settlers here, because they will not, as a body, fall down and worship the golden calf. And it is just this creation of adverse influence that it will become the duty of Captain Morris to dispel. As we have said, this is his opportunity. No constituency ever offered to its representative a better chance for a young politician to rise to a sphere of great usefulness than that of the East Coast. We do not commend log rolling, as ordinarily understood ; but if justice cannot be obtained by other means ; if it is impossible to lift the Government to a sense of the injustice they are committing toward the East Coast, then it were better for him to stoop to their level, if by so doing he can conquer, and lose none of those attributes which, under all circumstances, will carry a man onward.

Ormond Smithy.—Mr J. Villers announces that his shoeing forge at Ormond is now open. Gaoler,—Constable Jernes King, A.C., has ” been appointed ‘gaoler of the public prison in Gisborne. . .... Auction—Messrs. Ferris and Pitt, will sell by public:,-Auction; this, day atthe lower wliai'f certain.damaged goods ex Pretty Jane,’- . . ... :. , R. M’s. Court. — The Court was occupied with a number of debts and other cases yesterday, but nothing of much interest transpired. Bronchitis, Influenza, and other unpleasant complaints, are becoming prevalent, in Gisborne, How that the dry weather has fairly set in. Government. Reserve. —The Provincial Government Gazette contains a proclamation reserving town section No. 375, Gisborne, for the improvement and benefit of the township. Divine Service.—We have been requested to state that the Rev. E. Williams will resume holding divine services at Whakato on every.alternate Sunday, commencing Sunday next, at 2.30 p.m. Market Days.—Messrs.. Page and Co, announce that they have set.a room apart in the Masonic Hotel, specially for the use of country settlers and others visiting town during the discussion of the market question. Theft. —The assessment lists of the Poverty Bay Highway Board have been stolen from their exhibition place in the Court House. New ones have been compiled, and can be seen at Messrs Ferris and Pitt’s offices, Gladstone road. Meteorological. — The continued absence of rain is beginning to be seriously felt in the country districts. The farmers are very anxious on account of their crops, which will be more or less imperilled if some gentle showers do not soon descend. Nature, however, is not unmindful of our wants, for the dews at night are very heavy and refreshing. The Rev. E. Williams offered up a prayer for rain last Sunday evening at Holy Trinity Church. The weather is, otherwise, delightful. Road Board. —There was little business done at the Road Board on Monday last. The hearing of objections to the assessment list has been postponed to the 17th November. Mr Boland’s offer to clear the Kohi Creek for £57 was accepted ; also Mr Murphy’s tender for cutting drains at 20s per chain. The Secretary was instructed as to the cuttings at Kempthorne’s crossing and at Repongare. Plans for toll gates, and the drainage of a portion of the town of Gisborne, were laid before the Board. Synodical" Election. —A notice appears this morning from Mr Woon, Synodical Returning Officer, inviting the names of persons willing to be nominated as representative of this district in the General Synod of New Zealand, to bo sent in to him not later than the 22nd of November next. According to Statute XV, of the general Synod clauses 4 and 5, no person is eligible for the office of Lay Representative unless he is a communicant of the age of 21 years or upwards, has signed the declaration of church membership, and has been duly registered at least two months before the day of election. The Synod will meet at Nelson, early in the ensuing year. To the Poverty Bay Settlers. — A Gentleman, for many years in my employ, is now in England selecting, no my account, goods specially adapted for this province. To make room for consignments shortly expected, I shall, for the present, offer my large stock (to which - I invite your attention) at unusually low prices, with extra allowance for cash. My BOOK STOCK comprises Standard Worksin Theology, History, the SciencesTravel, Fiction, and poetry; elegantly, bound Gift and Table-books ; many thousand volumes adapted for children and young persons, libraries, and prizes ; Educational Books (used in the schools under the Board of Education ; Technical and Toy Books, Maps, <fcc. In Stationery I keep full stocks of every description required for the desk, counting-house, and private use. To teachers under the Board I act as agent—receiving and forwarding their salaries monthly. I shall be happy to supply Lists of Works in any Department of Literature. All orders which I may be favored will receive my prompt and careful attention. — Edward Wayte, 100 Queen-street. — September 30, 1876.—Advt. 1041