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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 932, 6 April 1881, Page 2

As the time for the assembling of Parliament approaches, subjects begin to press themselves on the notice of the various representatives, and render it desirable that public attention should be drawn to them thus early, so that in the struggle for place and power, and in the all-absorbing game of political log-rolling they are not overlooked. AVe have had a note before us for some time, to remind us of accepting au early opportunity to make a few remarks re the establishment of a light house at the East Cape. We have been favored by the Government with a New Zealand light-house chart, which shows that with two exceptions the coast lines of this Colony are pretty well supplied with these night guides to the mariner. The exceptions are Cape Egmont and the East Cape. Leaving however, the discussion of the former to those more acquainted with that locality, we confine ourselves to the latter; and in conjunction with

the necessity for a lighthouse, another absolutely desirable one is that of a telegraphic station at the same place. We notice that our Wairoa contemporary has recently drawn attention to the growing wants of such a branch at the Mahia, and he shews, with some' force of reason, why this small expense should be incurred. We trust, therefore, that the Member for the East Coast will look these questions up while he is on the spot, and so arm himself with arguments in favor of the prosecution of these works, as will have weight with the House and the Government. It will not do to narrow their utility down to the question of isolation. It is admitted that telegraphic offices at these two places will not pay as a speculation ; but, when it is considered how largely the Mahia and East Cape afford shelter in stormy weather —indeed, that they are the only safe havens of refuge between Wellington and Auckland —a much broader view can be taken of the matter. A lighthouse at the East Cape has been promised by successive Governments ; but the question of expense and want of political influence on the part of the East Coast settlers, have, together, caused its abandonment. This ought not longer to be. There are many ways in which public money is spent of less serviceableness to mankind than that which helps to reducing the dangers and miseries of ocean travelling to a minimum ; and, although lighthouses do not contribute to the revenue, the telegraphic service does ; and there is every reason to suppose that with the large population —Native and European —at the two places indicated, a goodly proportion of the expense of maintaining stations at them would be recouped by the use that would be made of them. We have but little faith that these boons will be conferred —simply because they are boons —but it is as well that they be not lost sight of.