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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 969, 13 August 1881, Page 2

We do not know why the Government sends to all the newspapers in the colony, free of charge, the Governor’s speeches, and the Financial Statement, and refuse them the Public Works Statement without payment, but so it is. Possibly, the refusal has saved us an immense amount of work, and our readers much laborious wading through many pages of dry matter. The telegraph officials, too, will be thankful that they are not compelled to remain up all night so as to supply us with “ copy ” the next morning: Certainly ,; we do not think the payment of it by wire was justified, as its voluminosity would entail a large telegraphic expense, to say nothing of the additional labor and expense of setting it up. Our Wellington correspondent says that the Statement has given general satisfaction, which we doubt not. In fact we should be surprised, after the many evidences we have had of the Hall Ministry’s improvement on its predecessors, more particularly as embodied in the parliamentary utterances of the Colonial Treasurer, if the statement of the Public Works Minister was less satisfactory. At any rate the East Coast does not seem to suffer at the hands of the present Government. Hitherto we have had nothing hut , promises, now we have promises fairly fulfilled, and, after all, the support that any Ministry is likely to receive at the hands of an East Coast electorate, will be measured almost exclusively by the assistance it renders to us. This is not an enlarged view tp take of matters, we admit, in fact we candidly acknowledge it is a most contracted and unpatriotic one, but we cannot afford to exist on patriotism any longer. For years we have done so, and grown no fatter —made no headway. Experience has proved that it is a losing game to stick to party for party’s sake. When principles and parties separate, it is time to cast off allegiance. Parties, in politics, are alike to charities in social life ; they do very well while the stomach is full, but when it is empty a man stands less upon ceremony, than the desire to appease his appetite. Honor is a splendid thing in its way, but we find few prepared to die for honor’s sake, unless the surroundings are pleasant. So with our politics. Self interest cannot be eliminated from the opinions we form, nor from the principles we inculcate. As with politics in a generic sense, so with the Governments that politics bring into existence. If they are useful and beneficial to us we give them our support; if not, it is small consolation to know that they have been useful and beneficial to any one else. A man wanting a meal, findeth his hunger but mocked at on being informed that his friend in the next street has just finished a good dinner. This has been our position with regard to pre-existing Governments. We have asked for bread and we have received stones. And now that a modicum of justice is being meted out to us, it would be the height of impolicy to reject the hand that gives us what we ask. With these views we perceive with satisfaction that the following (for which we are indebted to our local contemporary) forms part of the Public Works Statement. Referring to this district, the Premier said : —The importance of opening the extensive East Coast District has received much consideration. The road line from Opotiki to Gisborne has been under construction during the past year. It is very desirable to complete it, and so establish communication between the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay. Branching from this road an inland line has been explored and surveyed to the valley of Waiapu. Another road is to connect Gisborne with the Waimata blocks, and that from Gisborne to Wairoa, with branches to Crown lands, requires forming so as to afford the opportunity of settling a country which for the present may be said to be hermetically sealed from settlement. It is proposed to connect Waiapu near East Cape, the chief seat of the friendly Ngatiporou, with Poverty Bay. The road would open about 100,000 acres of Crown lands. The best lands and some very good blocks are held by the Natives. The country is rugged, but a good grade is everywhere obtainable. The distance is about 90 miles. The road has a considerable political value, but the country is not likely to be early settled.

The block to be opened by the Gisborne to Waimata Road contains 28,000 acres. It is proposed at once to survey 10,000 acres, including a village site; the level land in lots of 50 to 100 acres ; the hills in lots of 500 to .1000 acres. The length of the road will be about 18 miles. The Gisborne to Wairoa line, which should be opened if for political reasons alone, would render available about 90,000 acres of Crown lands. Its length would.be about 55 miles. It crosses little or no land inviting for small settlers, but there is much that would probably sell in 500 to 1000 acre blocks. The Waihau block, 13,800 acres in extent is about half-way between the extremities.. It should be .opened first. It contains good timber; and a site or sites for mills. A vote has already been taken for the work, but Cook County and Wairoa County Councils having failed to contribute, it was not expended.