Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1220, 8 December 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1882.

Business at the County Council meeting last night, proceeded at times very slowly. Too much desultory talk was permitted to he indulged in. Doubtless when the present Chairman becomes more familiar with his duties he will draw a tighter rein. The public works required in the district, under the Roads ana Bridges Construction Act of last session, and of which estimates were furnished by the Council, were discussed. So much work will have to be done in the way of preparing plans and estimates for the proposed work that it is scarcely probable that the County will be able to make a large demand for assistance upon the Government by the time required, namely Ist January next. As we have already said, business did not proceed rapidly last evening. Perchance it may have been owing to the fact that a copy of the Standard containing a leading article, not long ago, commenting upon the Wairoa Road contract, a6l, had been carried out, lay opened on the table. Some of the Councillors were evidently in bad humour. This showed itself rather plainly when the accounts to be passed were brought on for discussion. A number of accounts had been passed, but when the one from this office against the County for printing and advertizing, amounting to about £4, came up, Cr. Johnson, with the alacrity of a young man, rose briskly from the table and said he “ objected to the payment of Webb’s account,” and proposed that it should be held over until the 31st December. Cr. Johnson did not state of what year. The danger of partiality in members of the County Council was pointed out by us in the columns of this paper, and it was shewn how by favoritism public positions could be prostituted, and the ratepayers imposed upon. But Cr. Johnson has had his revenge—a revenge unworthy of so honorable a man as himself. As he used his public position to shield the others, so also does he do the same to us to prevent the payment of a trifling sum. When at every step private prejudice and private friendship actuate our public men, little need we wonder that the affairs of the district will go to the dogs, and local Government becomes a farce.