The Telephone. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1884.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 89, 18 March 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1884.

Although the want of telephonic communication between this town and Tologa has long been felt, at no time has its urgent necessity been so fully apparent as during the present sitting of the Native Lands Court, the proceedings of which, with respect to the duration of some cases and the calling on of others, rendering it necessary, for those who have business at the same, to keep a constant relay of messengers, running to and fro, in order to know what stage of the pro-

ceedings have been arrived at. Professional men, and many other’s, are put to great inconvenience, and frequently loss, both of means and time, by this state of affairs. More money is being spent in this way than would pay for the telephonic service for several years in advance. Numerous complaints as to this state of affairs have lately reached us ; and we would urge the settlers, through their public bodies, to again call the attention of the authorities to the great necessity, which undoubtedly exists, for telephonic communication between Gisborne and Tologa. Were this done and the facts forcibly and clearly laid before Government, we have, notwithstanding their late refusal, every hopes of a favorable reply.

Another matter which claims instant attention is a representation which has reached us complaining of the desecration of our little cemetry ; that the same is being converted into a grazing ground for cattle, with the knowledge, and by the consent of its present custodian. With respect to the first part of the complaint, we have had oscular demonstration as to its correctness, but as to whether the custodian is guilty of the second impeachment, we are only in a position to surmise. Be this as it may, he is undoubtedly the responsible individual and we must, most strongly, urge the trustees to, at once, take proper measures to prevent any further desecration of the graves of onr dear departed ones.

In view of the present stagnation in trade, it is somewhat pleasing to note the strenuous exertions which are being made by several of our public men to prove themselves equal to the exigencies of the times. First an agitation arose for reconstruction of the Harbor Board, to be quickly followed by one for harbor improvements, and, although there is little room to doubt but what the movement took its rise from party tactics, yet the agitation will, we sincerely hope, be productive of much real good to the whole community. The tact and skill displayed on the one part, and the ambidexity and subtelty shown on the other, whilst dealing with this question is highly characteristic of the peculiarly conflicting interests which sway the minds of many public agitators. But all this matters little providing the public are amongst the chief gainers, which they apparently are, for had it not been for the harbor agitation, it is more than probable that the Turanganui Bridge grant would have been allowed to lapse, and £2,250 of outside capital would then have been lost to the district. 'J he next public question now on the tapis, like the two previous ones, has been exercising the public mind for some years, and we can only hope that it will be as ably handled and as successfully fostered as the harbor and bridge question. In the face of the highly satisfactory results which have accrued from the late Conference—demonstrating, as it has forcibly done, that in a multitude of councillors lieth wisdom—would it not be worth while

adopting the same plans with respect to the proposed tram to Partutahi. Although the Borough Council is not interested in the matter in a like degree with the County, yet the metal question is of such vital importance to both that there can be little doubt but what every exertion and co-opera-tion will cheerfully be accorded to any scheme which will result in a practical solution of the difficulty. There are so many obstacles to overcome before we can reasonably hope to secure the desired ends as to need the mutual assistance and influence of all. We shall await with no small amount of interest the result of the invitation thrown out to capitalists.

It now seems to be generally acknowledged on all sides that Volunteering nnder the new regulations for the past twelve months has resolved itself into one round of unintermittent drudgery consisting of parades and drills seldom or ever enlivened by any of those social amusements or public displays which are the very salt in rendering the same at all palatable. There could be no other result to such a course than that now seen in the diminished number of members, and the reluctance evinced by our young men in coming forward as recruits. The very ends which the framers of the new regulations had in view—that of having a well-disciplined and thoroughly efficient Volunteer forcehave been most signally defeated by the want of tact shown in endeavoring to bring about such a desirable result, inasmuch as it has caused the same men whom they have been at so much pains and trouble to make efficient soldiers to at once seize the first opportunity which presented itself for releasing themselves from an obligation which entailed such a large amount of irksome toil and sacrifice of time without any redeeming thing to break its monotony or relieve its tediousness. But it is now sought to atone as much as possible for the errors of the past, and we trust that before long the unpopularity, which has been the outcome of the past year’s experiment, will disappear, and that we shall shortly see our local corps regain its former flourishing condition. With this object in view all drills, other than self-imposed ones, have been suspended for the current quarter, and active exertions are being made to enliven the dull round of routine duty, and to render the thing more popular by organising a series of annual sports and entertainments which, it is to bo hoped, will have the desired effect, and tend to renew the interest which has always hitherto been shown by all classes of the community in the progress and welfare of our Volunteers.