Poverty Bay Standard. Saturday, March 18, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1050, 18 March 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Saturday, March 18, 1882.

A iiiscissies bearing much interest i to the ratepayers .arose in the 'Countv | Council on Thursday evening, in the I matter of the delegation to siibordi- I jiaie officers of that body of the ap- i porlional expenditure of moneys voted j for repairs of roads or otlrer purposes. ’ Cnuneillor Uannws, leading off in for-1 eible argument against the wisdom ’ and legality of sueli delegation, advo- 1 cated strongly tl>e absolute necessity j for all such works being performed bv ; contract, separate lenders fornhiebi should be submitted for the Council's I approval. Without hesitation we I julopt Councillor Gxxxox's view of I the .question. A\ e hold that the I •Council are not justified in delegating ; to any person, powers over expend!- | ture of moneys, the property of rate- | pavers, for whieh they themselves are I but temporary trustees, and as such, i responsible for prudent and economical expenditure to the uttermost farthing. We agree with Major IVkstki I’l’ that it is a very difficult thing to drawn, hard and fast line in such matters, 'but we hold that it is an honest thing, i and as such becomes incumbent on I the f sittucil not only to draw such a line, but. once drawn, to adhere strict ly to it. Without for a moment saving anything that might be interpreted as . a tpieaiion rtf the integrity of subordinate offic’uda or their individual fit- 1 nc.s for judiciously expending sums »> <ntru»><d to them, «e bold fa.l

penditure should never be delegated to anyone. As a principle such delegation, putting aside all question ot its legality; is rotten at the core. To the Council alone the stewardship of expenditure has been entrusted by propertvbolders. and to the Council alone can they look for an account of such stewardship, and, doing their work as faithful and honest public servants, Councillors cannot render such account if they delegate to others expenditure which it is Clearly their individual dutv to

must carefully supervise. Public works expenditure should be made by contract, always open to public competition. The power of patronage must always be looked upon with suspicion, and the possibility of its existence eliminated by giving to Public Contracts that preference over Departmeutal payments which prudential and honest economy demands from all Publie Trustees. It appears clear to us ihat County Councillors cannot thus ■delegate their responsibility of close and intimate supervision of expenditure to their subordinates with out unmistakablyshirking duties which they are, in all honor and good faith, bound to individually perform ; duties somewhat irksome, and often thankless, but which nevertheless these gentlemen have willingly assumed. That they themselves, equally with their subonli nates, must in the execution of these duties, and especially in the adherence to the necessarily concomitant bard and fast riiles, experience a great deal of personal inconvenience, we willingly admit; but it is tin incontrovertible fact that they arc none the less bound to perform tltem, and, in such performance, observe that careful supervision and rigid economy as regards expenditure, to which they stand de facto pledged as Trustees of Public Money, and in which the marked advantages of the Public Contract system as contrasted with Departmental expenditure in nil Public Works stand boldly out as a safe and nocessary point of departure.

The case of dog jmisoniug brought before the Mayor and Town Council at their last meeting by Mr. .loiix Besxett. has created much disturbance among ratepayers. Legal proceedings are threatened, and an unI wholesome tone of dissatisfaction ■ seems to generally exist. This is hardly a right state of affairs. NotliI ing would he easier to the Council j than a temporary suspension of the j bye-laws affecting unregistered dogs ■ pending their next meeting, w hen the I matter could be fully discussed, and I the present cruel regulations revised. Poison is a dangerous article which no persons should be allowed to carry about with them. Ifit is necessary to coyploy it in the destruction of dogs, there«hould be a fixed place and time for itt -administration, but it seems monstrous to allow any man to walk about £ civilised town with a deadly poison in his pocket for any purpose whatetet’. The agony necessarily ensuing to the animal from the effect of it-seems to us to be not the least forcible argument against its use underany circumstances; while the indignation expressed by many respectable ratepayers at the eases recently brought under notice shews that the system is a bad one and requires instant attention at the hands of those in whom the well-being of the town is rested. Mr. Bkxxett’s dog has, as we are credibly informed, been instrumental in saving the lives of no less than six children. This in itself wc should have thought -sufficient to procure hint a reprieve, if not immunity, from am'mmediateand agonising death such as he suffered, and the cruel and imperative orders of the Town Council enforce.. True that the Council’s officer, Mr. la ram, denies administering poison to the dog, but it is an undoubted fact that the animal died from the effect of poisou administered by some one, and that the ontts of the act has fixed itself, rightly or wrongly, on Mr. Farah. This is a question on which wo offer no opinion, but we cannot withhold an expression of a feeling, in which we are by no weans singular, that the Mayor and Councillors should, by an immediate exertion of the discretionary powers vested in tlrem, render the recurrence of so unfortunate a circumstance impossible ■so far as in them lies. SureSy the people who put these gentlemen into oilice are entitled to consideration of, their grievances, be they great or small, and while blaming Mr. Bennett for carelessness in neglecting to register Lis dog, we cannot regard his grievance lightly. Somebody poisoned the dog. Air. Faram detries having done so ; while Mr. Bex nett says he is prepared to produce evidence that Mr. F.ie.vji administered the poison with his own hands. We should think that the Council with a view to clearing their own officer from imputation so indicated, would do wisely by enquiring into the matter, and instructing their officer to discontiuua the Use of poison pending their next meeting.

A meeting of the Fov<»rty Bay Hospital Committee was held on Thursday last. We are unab'e to give a full report as owingto our being left in ignorance of the day and time of the meeting, wc had no rcjwter present. In the future we shall bo careful :is to this, for the present, we can only apologise to our readers for the omission.

Mr. Finnernn desires n* tora.ll the attention of Builders anil Contractors to his advertiseinont calling for tenders for the erection of a •even-rooincd dwelling-house. 'l’he time fixed for the rinsing «>f these tenders is 12 o'clock (noon*» to-day. The plan* and specifications can I'? *■ -.'ii n' M,. F.nucra :'t L’X C'cl l?;-s-

u Citizen’s “ letter in the Herald of last evuiiitiif savors too highly of the •' curort hen nrribnuli" to elicit any repiv from ns further than an affirimv lion of our article which appears to have roused him to the effort of eotnposingsu studiously offensive and silly a letter. We are not here to enter the lists with every lunatic who fancies himself aggrieved by our views, hut to advocate honestly and fearlessly thu.se measures which we believe the host for the interests of the community. •‘Citizen’’ is unfortuuate in his selection of a nom de plume : he brings forcible to our memory that well known ami heartrending lines nf Sallist. “Me civ it <it in morum t pipet. t(vdel<pie." ‘

There was only ona case at the R.M.'s Court yesterdtn —-AV. Searle v. Surry. N’u appearance.

The Sydney Bidlttin has the following end intelligence about one whu in daya gone by was a favorite among New Zealand playgoers : “ Poor Johnny Moran, whose Irish jigs and stick-twirling used to make bis audiences yell, is now vtone-blind. and led about by his little •on. However, Johnny still follows his profcMion. and him of late been doing well un the Victorian aide.”

We are requested by Mr Fraser tu correct an error in the report of the proceedings in the K.M.’m Court in our issue of last Thursday. In the ease of Blackstock Livingstone Mr Fraser is ra|K»rted counsel fur defendant- (in thrt absence of Mr Finn). The par. should have trod “ Mr Robinson for plaintiff (in the absence of Mr Finn).” “Mr Fraser for defendant.” We apologise fur the mistake.

Mo*»rs. Dolman and Barry, Carters and Contrftj?tori», announce that they have taken over the business lately carried on by Mr. G. Burnand, embracing jrarerls delivery, cartage, and horse-breaking. Messrs. Dolman and Barry pledge themselves tu carefid and immediate attention to interests entrusted to their charge, and Solicit public patromiae. We feel ture that they will not be unmindful of their pledges, and that entire satisfaction will result Io those having buainess transactiOSS with them.

Ho Ur as the returns arc in, the propertv tax receipts for the present year have been about ,i 1.84,000. But several largo sums have still to come in, and the arrears from hist year, amounting, we believe, tu some £10,0(X) have tu be added to the total. Nearly cverv pennv uf three arrears ha? been got in. It must also be remembered that the fax tin’s Year is only throe farthings in the XI, instead of a l*nny, as before. The 10 per cent. p<?nultv on late payments is being strictly enforced, as indeed by law it must be, it being made a debt to the Crown, the officers being left no option as to its enforcement.

A conteuiporury. in acknowledging receipt uf a cutpy of the United Ireland newspaper, says : —“ If anything could show the difficulty the Gladstone Government has in governing lielaud this newspaper would. Notwithstanding what Mr. Gladstone ha* dune, and is doing, and what he has promised to do, he is denounced with a virulence that is unsurpassed in journalism. No statesman has done for Ireland what the Premier of England hus done, and yet there is not only no thunks, but falsehoods are told of him and uf hi* actions.” Dr. Burton’s malady took a turn for the worse on Thursday last, but yesterday we were glad to learn that he is a little, better, though by no means out uf danger. Not of a robust, health ui anytime, his svstem has suffered greatly from the ravages of the dreadful disx*a*e whicii naft possesses him. A few davs will decide whether he shall be

spared itj continue his useful career amongst [ us. We -inuerely hope medical science mav successfully beat down the fever fiend which has thus ruthlessly attacked one of our most valued fellow townsmen, whose life may now be said to be hanging tremblingly in the balance. Dr. Pollen speaks hopefully, but, bv uu means certainly, of his present state. Messrs. Bond and Hatten notify that on and after Wednesday next they will run a daily cuach, h aving Ormond at 8 a.in., and arriving in Gisborne at 10 a.m.; leaving Gisburne on the return journey at 3 p.m., and arriving at Ormond al. 5 p.m. This will be a great boon to that portion of the public whose biMUiebS ur pleasure may incline them in either direction. The fares are moderate, being 2s. 6d. each way (single), or 4s. return. Messrs. Bond and Hatten are procuring a Coach from Auckland by the Riugaruoma, which will arrive to-day, and in soliciting public patronage promise most accurate attention to the needs of their customers. Parcels, letters, etc., entrusted to them will be must carefully delivered at their respective destinations.

A Cornrersaziono and Gift Auction in aid of the funds of the Roman Catholic Church was held last evenin* in the Masonic Ilall under the auspices of Father Vaggioli, Air Butt, and other gentlemen and ladies interested. Mr o’Ryaw, the indefatigable secretary to the church committee, courteously showed us the many articles to be brought, to the hammer by Mr Montagu Smith. The collection was large aud tasteful, and should realize a handsome amount for the fwnd. The Gift Auction had i«<»t commenced when we went to press, but the attendance, already large, was rapidly increasing, and there seemed to be every prospect of a fruitful harvest. The Church Committee have our hearty good wishes for their success.

The Wellington correspondent of the iVe/o Zealand Herald says:—There is rat her a good joke in connection with the penalty attached to the non-payment- of the property tux, which, as no secret is made of it, 1 may mention without indiscretion. On his return today, the Premier suddenly discovered, to his chagrin, that he was one of the victims of this penalty. He had written his cheque before leaving Wellington, but feeling certain of being back before the Ist inst., ho did not send it tu the tax ol£ce. He was prevented by public business from getting hack in time, *ud only recollected -when too lute that his cheque had never gone in. However, he of ■oourae paid the penalty, ami looked pleasant, ■only expressing a hope that all taxpayers who were behind hand would go and du likewise. A Tobacco Growing Company was receutUy formed ill the Wuirarapa. The Stand’ ard states that a large number of samples of the full grown green leaf have been received by the manager, Mr Vodlbracht, fruin the Bay of Islands, Wanganui, Gisborne and Wairarapu. These have been cured and some of them-are now on view al. the office in Panama-street. The Bayef Islands specimens have attracted considerable attention, being particularly line and haring a rich and aromatic fr igraiice. U e hear that the growers in this-northern district Kud that they can gather two crops in the ortc season. The sowing fur the new crop c.mimenm in June and cun he cuirtinued untel September. The manager informs ns tlmt the company has alrciuly received as many applications for seed a» they had last year, aud began t«» experience some difficulty in keeping t-ue applicants supplied. At present there are about. 131 acres in 'Top, and samples are coming in daily. All a •count* combine to show that t.ie pr«»sp‘els <>f the company ami of tobacco manalectures >-i N’- a /. ilau-J a e m.s'. beall'iv.