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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 909, 15 January 1881, Page 4

We observe in the Poverty Bay Herald of last Wednesday, that the proprietary of that journal has once more changed hands; that as a Company it has ceased to exist; and that Mr. S. P. Craig is the purchaser. On the event we offer our warmest congratulations to all concerned : To those who, having burnt their fingers and lost their money in a speculation they did not understand ; and to the public on the prospect of the Herald being, henceforth, conducted in a manner calculated to advance, instead of retarding the interests of the district. The career of the Poverty Bay Herald hits been a chequered one. Started, originally, on false and unreliable

data, it has never once, during a period _ of seven years, held its head above Avater. The original promoters, Messrs. Dinwiddie, Morrison, and Co., of Napier, were tired of it the first year, when Mr. Dufaur, who was Editor of it at the time, bought it in. After a short period that gentleman also tired of keeping a white elephant, which was eating its head off, cast about for a certain number of those whose hostility to the Standard was well known, to become shareholders in the formation of a company. This is the only successful move any one connected withthat journal, from the beginning, has ever made ; and Mr. Dufaur had to. thank the enemies and doubtful friends of the Standard for his success, more than their desire to relieve him of his burden. Since that time the course of the Herald has been one of anything but peace. The Editorial chair has been singularly unfortunate in not having been occupied by men who were capable of giving the Herald a good name; of sustaining any given or well-defined principle (except that of extreme vacillation), or establishing an individuality of character for it, such as in the years to cime could be referred to with feelings of satisfaction. But it has continued true to the in-

stincts which accompanied its birth. Its first writer, Mr. Carlyle, steered all over the compass, so to speak, in search of a course which might, but never did, land it on the shores of prosperity ; and each of his successors, rashly importunate, and servilely subservient, to men of money, wrote according tojthe desire of men of the

time ; advocated interests and opinions that paid best; and utterly disregarded the only grand principle of newspaper life, which supports the conscientious man in untoward circumstances—namely, a conviction that he has done the right, even if he failed in achieving his object.

The Xerald never had a policy; therefore it possessed no friendship ; and during the last phase of its existence it suffered more in this direction than previously. Supported by men who fancied that running a newspaper was equivalent to springing a gold mine; men who thought to bend all things to their own sweet wills, and were virulently opposed to ourselves — who, amid all the frownings and thunderings of stormy skies, have not deviated one jot from the principles laid down when the Standard was first unfurled —failure, though remote, was certain. But we commiserate them. Now that the warfare is over, we glance backward with regret at their action ; and trust that their minds will become liberalised in the purifying crucible of misfortune in which they have been tried. We bear them no ill-will; although, from a business point of view, we have nothing to thank some of them for. The directors, with the exception of one or two, whose unbroken friendship we shall not forget, carried their animosity to such an extent, as to withdraw their custom from this journal. Yet no murmur escaped us. They held, during the latter months to the eye servioes of a men they professed to despise, and of whom they spake unking things. While others could see the ruinous course he was pursuing; while even the Directors condemned his action, they maligned him behind his back and spoke fair to his face. It was dishonest of them ; but, verily, he had his reward. Their balance-sheets were shown to be a bogus transposition of figures. The rottenness of their system, and improvident disregard of business principles, were periodically brought before them, but they clung to the white elephant’s trunk with a false hope, and spartan like tenacity. The end, known to all others, but disbelieved in by themselves, has come ; followed by Chagrin and Disappointment—twin sisters, bearing a dismal comfort to the wilfully unfortunate—as their only solace in reflection. Thev have lost the whole of their paid up capital, some £ll5O, in three years ; and now they know, what the luxury of owning a newspaper, costs. As we have said, the time is opportune ; and we hope the new proprietor will look with a zealous regard to the future editorial conduct of the Herald. wish him well in his undertaking ; our sincerity may be accepted unconditionally, when we say that it will be our great desire to reciprocate his efforts in every direction for the public good.

For some time past several persons well up in Maori matters, have felt an uneasiness in consequence of the influence Te Kooti was gaining throughout the district of Poverty Bay. It is a.n authenticated fact that a Maori has been declared “Makutu” by Te Kooti, and acts as agent for disseminating the form of worship advocated by the notorious murderer and rebel. We are sorry, too, to learn that this disciple has gained many followers, as through his working upon the superstitions of the natives, many of the more vacillating of our allies have enrolled themselves under Te Kooti’s banner.

These facts being very well known, caused a general scare last night when it was reported that a large quantity of ball cartridge and percussion caps had been discovered in a deserted whaie, at the "Waikanae. It appears that a young lad named Searle, son of Mr. Searle, the tailor, was out on a sort of “ prospecting” tour, and noticed that in a small wooden shanty, on this side of the Waikanae, and almost directly in rear of the dwelling occupied by M-. Eobinson, solicitor four barrels of Enfield ammunition’ The boy promptly informed his father of the discovery, who immediately ordered him to proceed to Sergeant Huddleston, who with commendable

alacrity proceeded to the site of the impromptu magazine. On his way he met Sergeant Kidd and Mr. F. J. Thompson, who attended and assisted him. Sergeant Huddleston, on entering the shed, discovered that the barrels contained in all about 2,200 rounds, and also some 3,200 percussion caps ; and that these had been lately placed there is very clearly proved, not only from their general appearance, but also from statements made by neighbours. The Sergeant ordered the removal of the caps and cartridges to the Magazine in the Police Barracks, where they now remain.

As before stated, somd alarm was felt when the facts became known, and very strong remarks were made as to the manner in which the private magazine on the Waikanae is left unprotected. Surely a guard might be placed there to watch, and to prevent persons from interfering with the building and its contents. The foregoing is 'a circumstantial account of facts, merely ; and we do not suppose that the slightest alarm is to be occasioned on account thereof. Those who are supposed to know most about these things, say, that the ammunition belongs to Eiperata—on whose land it was found—and that it came into her possession years ago, during the disturbances that existed at the time. The mystery is that it has remained all these years without being, given up.