OUR LETTER BOX.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 22, 2 August 1887, Page 3

OUR LETTER BOX.

>• POVERTY BAY.”

(To tas SctToa.i —lll reference to Changing the hfime bf Poverty Bay to something more appropriate, I must say that it is ft wonder to me that some of our town Councillors have not thought of it before, and the community at large are greatly indebted to Mr Townley for the active part he has taken in the matter. It was pleasing to see at the last Council meeting that he was so Well supported. I may say that it is to the interest of every individual living ifi this plate whether he has estate it) the country Or not; that the name of “ Poverty " should be changed, no matter to what, but let it be something else. I could mention a number of names in other parts of the world which have been erased and others substituted instead, as they were fletrimehtal to the interest of the community. At any time emigrants were terrified at the idea of passing Cape Danger, and indeed it deterred many from seeking new homes, but since the fcjime was changed to thb Cape of Good Hope thousands have passed it without giving it a thought or in fact knowing that there was danger there more than any other part of the ocean. So it is with this district. Farmers are sure to give it a wide berth unless they ire made Aware of the capabilities of the soil and climate. The name “Poverty " suggests that the inhabitants are scattered and poor, and no taan of capital would think of coming with the idea bf either settling or investing. I have heard many say that in writing to their friends in the old country, that they have left out ’* Poverty Bay ” and only put in Gisborne, New Zealand, afraid that their friends might get an idea into their heads that they were living in a poverty Stricken place. I hope that the ruling bodies will succeed in carrying the Change through now as the ball has been set rolling.—l am, &c. Eoo.

The reduction oF wages.

'To THE EdITCB." Sib,—l take this opportunity of thanking you for your noble defence in the cause of the poor working man. It is hard that a man like Mr King should be the first to propose a reduction of their wages, considering that only a short time ago he was a working man himself on day wages, and if be looks inore closely into the position he holds fio'w, he will find that the poor working man made him ; certainly he has not made them, and most likely his motive in reducing the County Council rate of wages was that he might get men to work for him still lower. We are anxiously looking forward to the next meeting of the Council, when we hope that Mr Sunderland will turn the tables. We are grateful as a community to those gentlemen who opposed such iniquitous retrenchment and I am sorry that our old hero Captain Ferris was not in the Council. — I am, &c. Justice.