The Telephone. WITH WHICH INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 278, 5 November 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. WITH WHICH INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5.

In consequence of their being no quorum of the Cook County Council, at its final meeting last night, much important work had to be left undone. Being the last meeting of the Council it was rationally expected that the retiring members would have left the house in order for their successors. But like tenants of an undesirable character they, so to speak, quitted without giving up the key of the premises. This is not a state' of things to be commended. Four out of nine Councillors were present. In consequence of the absence of the other members, intending contractors are unnecessarily inconvenienced, tender deposits are held over, and tenderers are kept in suspense. At the same time public works requiring to be gone on with, remain at a stand still. It is sorry work flogging a dead horse. We therefore abstain from characterizing in the terms deserved, the conduct of men, who, having undertaken to perl form certain public duties, have absolutely neglected those duties, and shewn a wilful disregard of the responsibilities they voluntarily incurred. Had it been the depth of winter, —if any excuse could be offered, such conduct might be oterlooked. But when men thrust themselves upon the public, seek public offices, and then apparently act, only so long as they can gratify their own ends, and no longer, their prospect of receiving gentle consideration in the columns of this paper, is so remote, that those who rely upon such an off-chance will find themselves sadly mistaken. Men who seek the control of public affairs must carry out their duties.