The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3. 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 4, 3 November 1883, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3. 1883.

It cannot be reasonably contended, we think, that undue impartiality to the land of our adoption influences us, when we affirm that this district offers inducements second to none in the North Island for the settlement of men with a little capital, who have the energy and will to work out a bright future for themselves—indeed, in numerous instances we have had the pleasure of hearing from visitors the exclamation—“ What a splendid pastoral country.” Truly the iuxurient.growth of grass in this district cannot be excelled in any part of New Zealand, and we have other resources, wi ich must, by judicious management, have a tendency to make Ghuorne ere long one of the leading export potts in the “ Britain of the South.” Ample proof has been afforded that maiden land in Poverty Bay, when cleared, will carry as much as eight sheep to the acre ; while there is every prospect that the oil wells will prove a large item in our export trade. But, rich as our soil is, it certainly cannot be deemed advisable that we should a« it were, “rest on our oars,” and allow public affairs to be conducted in an easy going sort of way. What we desire to see put in force is united, energetic action on the part of our public men, for the im prnveinent of our port, and encouragement offered to those men of capital who have the spirit and desire to develope the resources of this rich and extensive district. Already «« ha»-c iu cur midst men of energy and ability who devote their practical knowledge to the carrying on of such industries as engineering coach building, brewing, etc , and we would very much like to see the establishment here of other manufactures, such aa woollen mills, tannery, meet freezing and preserving works. There is no place hef er adapted than Gisborne for the successful working of a woollen mill and tannery, and we fail to see why our raw products should be exported when natures has done so much towards making Gisborne a suitable place for the centre of a large manfacturing district. Extra wha'fage accommodation will, of course, be required shortly, and it should be the aim of our Harbour Board to push this work ahead as speedily as possible, besides making a strenuous effort 1o raise a loan for the construction of a breakwater on t’ at g and foundation— the re-*f— nature has provided in the bay. We offer these eugges tions for the consideration of our leading m*n, and trust'hit they will, by uni ed actions, place Gisborne, ere ma»<y haw* gone by, in the position she should occupy as one of the inogt thriving places in the • ulo y.

With a view of suppressing, as far as possible, those transactions which the New Ze tland Native Lind Settlement Company have become so famous for. and in which they have ever proved themselves such great adepts—we refer particularly to those deprecatory proceedings which, in the Native Lands Court a short time back, called foith the stern and well-merit d rebukes which fell from His Honor Judge Brookeield, respecting the mode of operations adopted hy the company in obtaining the signatures of natives to the convey nice of lands which, at the same time, they were well aware had previously been assigned over to other parties—the hon. the Native Minister h is directed the following notification to be issued to all licensed interpreters who have been appointed under the Native Lands Act:—“ The attention of the Govern-

ment has been called to irregular practices in the attempted acquirement of land owned by Maoris,’ and to which licensed iute. pie- | ters have in some cases lent themselves. The Government is informed that Bign -C fl^ 4 o f Maori owners to deeds of sale or lease are not uufrequently taken, notwithstanding the knowledge that the game person had signed similar, but valid, deeds previously. The Government objects to and condemns these practices, not only because they are wrong and inequitable in themselves, but because of their evil effect on the native mind and character. It is expected that licensed interpreters, who are always presumed to be of good reputation, will carefully avoid making themselves parties to anything calculated to injure the native race, either materially or by the degradation of iis moral character. Interpreters are therefore in formed that the Native Minister will feel it his duty to advise His Excellency to cancel the license of any interpreter whose conduct is not in conformity with these views, or who knowingly gives countenance in the translaii m of deeds to the practices herein condemned.” It must be a source of gratification to all those who wish to see Native matters dealt with on an honest and fair basis to observe that the Government is endeavouring to support the Land Court judges in their onerous exertions in endeavouring to carry out the enlightened and upright policy < f our Native Minuter. We sincerely trust that the admonition conveyed in the foregoing official notification will have its intended effect on certain interpreters, who, when acting as agents for the Company, seem to have the same obscure percep'ion of what is right and wrong as their employers.