Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE: TUESDAY. JUNE 19 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1318, 19 June 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE: TUESDAY. JUNE 19 1883.

To the settlers of this district, residing in the vicinity of Ormond, and to those generally along the banks of the Waipaoa River, as well as to the community as a whole, it is a matter of the highest importance that the necessary legislative power should be obtained this session to enable those affected by the river’- overflow, to take such action as they deem necessary for their mutual protection. The question of river conservancy is by no means a modern one. The oldest nations of the earth have, in their primitive days, as well as at the pre sent time, had recourse to such means as suggested themselves for the protection of their habitations and cultivations from the overflow of rivers. We read of the Egyptians in the earliest times cultivating the science of geometry, of which they then possessed but a few of the elementary theorems, in order to be the more capable of coping with their dreaded enemy. “It is averred,” says an old writer, “ that their lands being subject to periodical inundations, the face of their country was, in consequence, changed by the floods, their landmarks and Boundaries were constantly effaced ; and in order to restore to every man his former portion of ground, recourse was had to geometry to accomplish it." For the people of Poverty Bay no such subtle enquiries are needed, no peregrinations are required to be made into unexplored regions of either science or art. AU that is needed ts the simple exercise of an ordinary amount of good sense, to enable them to render available, all the scientific and financial advantages that lie around, ready to supply their demands when properly requisitioned for. For this purpose the constitutional course must be followed of, in the first instance obtaining the sanction of Parliament, to enable the settlers liable to suffer injury directly or indirectly to protect themselves from any idiosycracies the Waipaoa River may, as it occasionally does, from time to time develope. Mr. Allan McDonald, as the mouth-piece of the settlers in the House of Representatives, is as a matter of course, the channel to which they will look for a Bill for the purpose being carried into law. The settlers of Poverty Bay have so far, done their duty, by taking the initiative even before Parliament met, and in having a Bill drafted to be handed to our member with the request tnat he will use his best endeavours to cause the Bill to become law. The duty is not,' under all the circumstances, particularly laborious to any one possessing an ordinarily good physical constitution ; and we sincerely trust that Mr. Allan McDonald, will use in his place in the House that energy and foresight which he possesses in having “ The Cook County’s River Act ” during the present session un fait accompli. Two observations were, we understand, let fall by the hon. member for the district when addressing his constituents at Ormond with reference to the River’s Bill The first was, to the effect that he doubted the sincerity of 1 those persons who had taken steps towards having a hiver’s Bill passed. He doubted whether the peoi pie, whose sincerity he questioned, ' were acting with honest intentions, and really meant what they apparently strove for History teems with donb- , ters. Dubiety is the beginning of knowledge. Mr Allan McDonald need no longer haye any misgivingon the subject. A Bill carefully . drafted and dealing concisely with the subject, has been printed and circulated in the di-trict, so that he who runs tnav read. It now rests with the ratepayers to conv ne public meet in us I at the earliest dates possible, and pass

resolutions affirming of amen ling the principles of the Bill as printed. No delay should be permitted. The other point was this : Mr Alux McDonald is reported to have said that as no notice had been given three weeks before Parliament sa>-,- that such a -local Bill as the Cook County s River Bill was to be brought forward, it was, therefore, too late n»* to have the Bill introduced. This is altogether erroneous. By a Gazette notice issued towards the clo-W of last Session, any local Bill may, be brought forward upon giving three weeks n tice before the tr.cond heading, which may be, of course any time during the session. I hefa is. therefore, no difficulty in the way.- , It for the ratepayers who At"*’ interested in the matter to bestir themselves, and have meetings called without delay to pronounce their views upon the Bill already drafted, and make such additions or alterations as in their united wisdom they deem necessary.