Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 952, 11 June 1881, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard.

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881.

We shall sell to no man •Justice or Right; We shall deng to no man Justice or Right; We shall defer to no man Justice or Right.

The last Session of the present Parliament was opened by His Excellency Sir Arthur G-ordon, on Thursday last; and, all things considered, it is a large improvement, both in method and matter, on those we have perused for the last few Sessions. But, this acknowledged, there is nothing interesting in it, beyond a slight outline of the measures to be brought down by the Government. These are briefly : —The construction of future lines of railway by “Companies” —or, in other words, by private enterprise. We have quoted the word, because the Governor does not say whether his Government will confine its assistance to Colonial industry, or invite foreign capital and competition. The land leases of the Middle Island falling in, and the assurance of the Government that it will “ render those “ lands more generally useful to the “ State,” will afford Sir George Grey a splendid opportunity to mount his “ gridironing ” hobby, and take an eitra ride. The hope held before us that as the Legislature is to be called on to sanction further expenditure for the survey of roads in view of opening up more land for sale and settlement, is encouraging. Now is the time ; this is the Session, in which Mr Allan McDonald’s opportunity arises to win the spurs, or be —knighted. We are once more promised that a re-distribution of seats shall actually take place ; and, possibly, in view of the c >ming elections, this may be so ; but His Excellency is most suspiciously silent as to the bases of what the future representation is to be. This w 11 be one more arrow for Mr. McDonald’s quiver.

Charitable aid ; the consolidation of Licensing laws ; and granting assistance to local public works, are amongst the other chief items of the Speech. And as the new Governor has congratulated the people confided to his care, on the revival of trade, and signs of general prosperity in the land, we do so too, in the hope that some of both may soon favor Poverty Bay with a visit.