Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Tuesday, March 28, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1054, 28 March 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Tuesday, March 28, 1882.

The leading topic in country circles is undoubtedly the £7,000 loan. Many and various, and even wonderful, are the reasons given in disfavor of it. Incapacity of the Council, favoritism of members, insufficiency of amount, are only a few of the objections we have heard as bearing strongly against it. We do not think the Council have any need to fear defeat on the two first scores we have quoted, for whereever made, unless supported by strong and irrefragable proof, they evidence such strong personal animus as to become suspicious in themselves. We see no reason in this case to believe that either incapacity or favoritism has a being in the action of the Council. We believe that the measure has been mooted with a view to the general benefit of the district by the substitution of good and permanent roads, properly metalled and capable of enduring much wear and tear at little expense of maintenance, for the wretched apology for roads which, as presently constructed of river-bed stone, resolve themselves under a slight traffic pressure into a sand which, wet or dry, is as heavy upon beasts of burden, as unpleasant to the wayfarer, and as generally useless for road-making purposes, as it is possible to conceive; therefore, we decline to believe in either one or the other of these first two objections. Incapacity disproves itself at once, for we doubt whether, if the district all throughout were searched, a more intelligent body of men than those forming the present County Council could be found. Favoritism is a charge conveying such imputation of double dealing, and dishonesty, that those who make it should be fully prepared to substantiate their statements, or else to “ eat the leek.” On neither of these two grounds, as i we have said before, does the Council’s i measure stand jeopardised. The third j objection we have quoted, viz., insufficiency of amount, shews itself more ' valid in substance, as it must necessari’y be the result of some reasoning study of the matter, and, therefore, commends more highly itself to the

consideration of ratepayers. We believe that Mr. Chambers, who is quoted as the originator of the scheme, holds strongly with this last quoted objection, urging in support of it that the amount proposed to be expended in purchase of metal is not large enough to secure the advantageous drawback indicated by the comparative values of large and small purchases. These are matters worthy of attention, which they will doubtless meet with on the day of polling. But where we fancy the scheme will meet the greatest opposition is in the fact that it has not been sufficiently ventilated to the ratepayers. More public meetings should have been held, at each of which Councillors should have been present to thoroughly explain the object of the proposed loan, and the Engineer should also have been present to answer such questions as ratepayers might have wished to ask respecting the technical portion of the work. True that this has been done, but not, we think, to a reasonably sufficient extent, and should the scheme be lost, we think that this will be the real reason. Ratepayers do not clearly understand the scheme. We have conversed with many upon it, and we have been told, in more instances than one, that it was a choice of two evils, and they did not eare a button how it went. There is something radically wrong when an appeal to the pocket fails to elicit any expression from those who will either benefit or lose by it; and we hold that the root of this evil lies in the insufficient ventilation of the measure. Still, be that as it may, it is clearly the duty of every" ratepayer to record his opinion on Wednesday, as to whether the loan is desirable or otherwise. It would be a thousand pities if through an insufficiency of votes being polled the matter were to drop through, as it inevitably will if the ratepayers do not respond manfully to the call made upon them. Of all the ratepayers we have spoken to ou the subject, not one had seen a sample of the metal proposed to be taken from the Patutahi quarry, or had any idea of its relative value as a road material. One far-sighted gentleman stated that he thought the money should have been borrowed for fifty years instead of ten, and from what he said we hardly think he would have been in favor of repayment even then, if he could possibly help it. He expressed his intention of not voting on the matter, aud yet he seemed a by no means unfavorable specimen of his class. Our issue of to-day contains a long letter from “ Settler ” on the same matter, and couched much in the same language, although emanating from a totally different person. Surely if these people had been shewn the material proposed as a substitute for the present road meta.l, and had had the whole thing thoroughly explained to them, as it has been explained in the Council, they would at least admit that, throwing all other considerations on oneside, the comfort ensuing to the travelling public by such substitution renders it in itself a consummation most devoutly to be wished. So far as we have heard these objections to the loan seem to have their origin in ignorance, which ignorance we hold could have been enlightened very easily by more active ventilation of the subject matter at public meetings. It is too late now, however, for that, aud all that can be hoped for is that a full expression will be elicited by the polling on Wednesday of the feeling of ratepayers on the subject. For ourselves we do not advocate the loan, nor plead against it, for the reasons given in our last issue, but were we ratepayers we should certainly not fail to go to the poll on Wednesday morning fully prepared to give our vote either for or against it, according as common sense aud interest might guide us—with a view that even if the motion be negatived, the negative should be a decisive one, and not the effect of an insufficiency of votes—or else, and our present proclivities certainly tend more that way, that the loan might be established by a majority which would leave no room for captious criticism hereafter.

We have been requested te state that all the East Cast overland mails, via Tologa Bay, will close this (Tuesday) afternoun, at 3 p.m. Messrs Pitt and Bennett will hold their usual fortnightly sale a; Makaraka to-morrow when some really good stock will be offered by public auction. A general meeting of subscribers to the Patutahi School is summoned by notice in our advertising columns for Thursday, 30th March, at 7 p.m., in thefSehool House, Patutahi, for'despatch of business.

Mr W. K. McLean notifies that having eftgaged the services of a remarkably competent collector, he is now prepared to undertake all duties in connection with collection of rents, professional and ti-ade documents, at a reasonable rate of commission. Messrs. A. Graham & Co., invite the attention of the public generally to the complete renovation of their Stock of Wines, Spirits and Ales, of all classes and all brands to suit customers. Their advertisement may be seen in another column.

We would draw the attention of our readers te an important sale to be held to-day, by Messrs. Carlaw Smith and Co., of forfeited shares in the Southern Cross Petroleum Company. There are 1500 te be disposed of in parcels varying from 50 to 300. The sale will commence at noon.

The Secretary to the Tologa Bay Race Meeting calls public attention te the following :—“ The term ‘ District horse * ahull in all cases under this programme be taken to mean any horse or horses the bona fide property of owners residing between the East Cape and Whangara; such horses to have been the property of the present owners for three months previous to the Ist March, 1882.” Nominators should give their particular attention to this.

A strong protest is being made in Napier against the traffic caused by the Union Company’s boats calling there on Sundays.

To the courtesy of Mr R. Cooper we are indebted for the possession of a limited number of forms of application for grants of land or remission of purchase money for submission to the Naval and Military and Local Forces Land Claims Commission. Any person desiring to use these forms may obtain them at the office of this paper free of charge. The following tenders were received on Saturday morning last by Mr W. P. Finneran Architect, for the erection of a 16-roomed dwelling house for Mr T. E. R. Bloomfield : —C. D. Berry, £2,487 ; Hurries and Lincoln, £2,397 ; J. Somervell, £2,290 ; R. Houlden, £2,059 ; W. O. Skeet, £2,045. Mr Skcet’s tender, being the lowest, was accepted.

We would call particular attention to the columns of our fourth page of this mornings issue, containing a description of the sad loss by drowning, of Captain Doughty, of the schooner Orpheus. Captain Doughty was well-known, and greatly respected in this port, as in almost every other on the New Zealand Coast. He leaves a wife and family of five children to lament his loss.

The catering for the Easter Encampment of J Battery Volunteer Artillery has been undertaken by Messrs. Thelwall and Beveridge, who assume the whole management and finding of the cuisine. About 60 members are expected‘to be under canvas. Cupt. Winter solicits a full attendance of Volunteers on Thursday next, in order that the fiuuj arrangements regarding the Easter Encampment may be communicated to them.

On Saturday, at 4 p.m., only a few members attended the meeting of the Fire Brigade, under Captain Winter and Foreman Tucker, at the engine-shed, for the purpose of testing the gear. It was found that the repairs to engine, hose, etc., were only half completed, owing to illness on the part of the contractor. The engine and gear were taken to the rear of Mr. 8. Stevenson's buildings, where pumping was commenced in order to ascertain the different leakages, which were properly noted, and the engine and gear returned for completion of the repairs contracted for.

The Secretary of the Committee of the Gisborne Public Library informs us that a change has been made in the prices of subscriptions to that institution, viz.: Grown up persons, instead of £1 per annum, will be charged 15s per annum, payable in advance, (or 5s per .quarter in advance) ; and for persons under the age of 16, 10s per annum, or 2s 6d per quarter, either being payable in advance. The Library has at present about 80 subscribers, and we trust that the reductions as made will have the effect of greatly increasing the number.

Does anyone know whether we are to have the one-chain road as a continuation of Greystreet from the Waikanae stream to the beach, thrust down our throats, or will the Council exercise their undoubted prerogative and take 1| chains so as to give us an unbroken vista from Gladstone Road to the Beach of equal width? In ten years time this will probably be the favorite promenade of Gisborne, and it would indeed be a pity to sacrifice its beauty te the unpleasantness of fighting out our undoubted rights in the matter. Shall we hear of this at the next meeting of the Town Council ? Wo hope so!!! The trial of Dr. Lam son, charged with having murdered the brother of bier-wife by administering to him a deadly poison, known as aconite, has been concluded. It was proved that the prisoner had purchased two grains of the poison, and that he mixed it with sugar in the capsules of the medicine which he gave to his victim, who is described as a paralytic boy. Upwards of a grain of aconite was found in the body, one-tenth of which would have been sufficient te cause death. Dr. Lamson was found guilty, and was sentenced te death. His motive, it is supposed, was to obtain certain property which would revert to Mrs. Lamson at her brother’s death.

At the settling on the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s late meeting, £1,393 was paid to the various winners. Mr. Allan McLean, owner of Louie, winner of the Maiden Plato and Napier Handicap, received £565, and immediately gave a cheque for £lOO to the Hospital. This liberal donation (says the Telegraph) is one of the advantages derived from the local horses winning the principal events at our race meeting. In former years nearly all the prizes were won by outside horses, and local institutions gained nothing. This year all that was won by outsiders has been £225 out of nearly £1,400 paid away in stakes, the remainder staying in the district. The pound for pound subsidy makes Mr. McLean’s donation of the value of £2OO to the Hospital.

A correspondent of the Ballarat Star, on friendly terms with the officers of the Russian squadron, who proceeded down Hobson’s Bay on board the Afrika, is responsible for the following report of an opinion expressed by them on the lute utterances of Skobeloff :— “Regarding General Skobeloff’s speech, they told me that it could not have been made with any authority, seeing that at present the general is not in favour with the Emperor. Indeed, the way in which Skobeloff has been neglected of late has aroused a feeling of indignation in the Russian army. In command of the Warsaw district, Skobeloff has been absent on prolonged leave ; in fact, as good as dismissed from his command. If war does take place this year between Russia and Germany, the naval officers on board the Afrika are of opinion that it will be due to the machinations of Prince Bismarck.

Mr Saunders, who is a candidate for Wakanui, stated in an election speech : —“ It was the Hall Government’s interest to secure the election of Sir George Grey, Mr Macandrow, and Mr Sheehan to the House, and were these three gentleman turned out to-day, the ousting of the Government would follow tomorrow.” He further, proceeded to say: —“ If proof were wanted it was available in Hansard, that whenever a disagreeable duty like proposing a reduction on the Speaker’s salary was to be done it full to the lot of either William Swanson or Alfred Saunders. Laughter.) After a reference to how he had kept aloof from all social fetters which shut members’ moutlis, Mr. Saunders said he and Mr. Swanson were of the same age, the same height, the same build, the same weight; they had both been trained as mechanics ; they neither of them had received an hour’s education in a college ; both of them had received offers of seats in Ministries, and of the highest positions that Governments could offer them, but both had come to the conclusion that if they were faithfully and fearlessly to discharge their duty to the Colony and to the constituencies which had entrusted them with tdeir interests, they must accept no invitations and no favors of any kind from the Governor, nor from his Ministers, nor from any of the Civil Servants ; so that on these festive occasions—whan even the hon. member for Ashburton forsook his blue book for a few hours, donned a swallow-tail coat, and joined the rank of fashion and beauty at Government House — two old men were always left in their easy clothes by the side of the forsaken library fire, where they could talk over the pros and cons of opproaching divisions, and where, even during the last session, the fate of the Ministry had been more than once decided by these two uneducated, uncouth, unceremonious, but independent and incorruptiUa oid (Great laughter and applause).