The Dunstan Times FRIDAY 5th APRIL, 1867.

Dunstan Times, Issue 258, 5 April 1867, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY sth APRIL, 1867.

rfoueith fiie rule of ifcjn estikelt jvm, '.tic fR* i» MtoHTtiir. Quia th« swotui!"

The meeting of which we give particular:; in another portion of tnir columns, held at Alexandra, for the purpose having that town incorporated is a most phasing proof that the goldfiehis' residents arc begining to be thoroughly alive to the advantages of local self-government; that the people of Alexandra were not earlier in the field we arc at a loss to divine, especially when they must have seen how their neighbors at Clyde and Cromwell profited by having their township 3 created into municipalities, and the visible improvements effected *by the judicious outlay upon public works, of money obtained in the shape of rates and grants in aid; leaving out altogether the advantages possessed by a legally recognised body, in lieu of the old system ol Improvement Committees, which, after a splutter at first starting, it loses all confidence in itself, and finally comes to such a peaceful end, that even its nio3t earnest supporters cannot for the life of them defino the exact moment of its dissolution. In the caso of a municipality it has tho law upon its .side, and every one who has lived upon the guidfields' townships knows the value of that, being fully aware that there are many who, not without cccrsivc are adopted, will contribute their fair share to tho pub". lie weal; but who by no means refuse to partake of advantages secured to them at the expense of others. Another advantage a municipality possesses is, that it is tho recognised mouth-piece of a recognised body of people, ami whoso demands under all ciroutnst;>:Vcrß. rnu c ! K? I'stonr.v" . :•,• tin the land; f r r.a. ens 'a, .:• •■ have afqnuxd j incus .standi, ;.:.

have become a part and parcel of an institution which, from time immemorial has been one of the safeguards of the liberty of the people, and the boast of every Englishman. In acquiring municipal institutions, a first step is made in local self-government, and wo all know full well the advantages that the Colony of Victoria has derived from that system —how, through its influence, little inland town* ships have grown into comparative cities, and how roads and bridges have been made which otherwise would never have been the case; for as, with ns, the money would have been spent on the seaboard at the chief scat of government. The same beneficial effects must eventually follow here—the rural municipalities will be the means of developing District and Shire Councils; and the up-country districts,, instead of being drained for the sole aggrandisement of Dunedin, will have spent within themselves a fair proportion of the revenues which they contribute. We cannot better illustrate this fact than by reminding our readers how much better it would be to expend money in opening up and developing the vast natural resources of the inland districts, than in.dredging Dunedin Harbour or making a railway to the Clutha—in both these cases there exists communication by land and by water, while on the goldfields there are important places to which there is no communication at all. The late visit of His Excellency the Governor will doubtless prove more beneficial to the" Goldfickla' interests than the generality of the people imagine. His Excellency and 'Major liichardsou left, we believe highlyapproving of what they saw, and the encomiums passed by them upon the wonderful industry, skill, and indomitable perseverance of a people whom they regretted having so slight a knowledge, will not be allowed to waste itself in mere verbosity, but that measures will be taken to secure to the Goldfields an expenditure therein of their fair proportion of the public revenue. We should not be surprised to find that next session the General Government coining down to our resauo, in the shape of a bill to create District and Shiro Councils, and by those means enable us to participate in some shape in the spoils of the public estate. No one can travel through the Dims tan and Wakatip Districts without feelings of surprise, that such a great extent of beautiful country, and possessing within itself such vast natural advantage, should contain so small a population, and remain as it were, looked up, its rich alluvial valleys sparingly cultivated, and its pastures almost untrodden, because a Provincial Government composed of mercenary shop-keep-ers and huxters, instead of increasing the productiveness of the country, cripples its industry by heavily taxing its inhabitants for the sole purpose of adding to the importance of Dunedin. If we complain of being unduly taxed, tho provincial authorities inform as that the management of the gold fields necessitates a large additional expenditure—this wo say is a positive untruth ; no community of people of equal numbers require so little police, protection, nor anywhere else is property so safe or the inhabitants better ordered ; of this fact-, P \' v ", ■;..■"■' ih n , vo'-M-'oc' of ■:.-■■ ■.any of flus rt'iihh'g popuHl r 11 w •'•}: everywhere me' hit;; wh rv>

indubitable proof of the unfeigned and good behaviour of a people absolutely living under selfcontrol. The Provincial Government may have incurred a large expenditure upon Goldfields' officials, in providing Tom Nokes and Jack Styles with a billet, but whose services, instead of doing credit to their patrons, have only brought them into contempt, and it would have been better had the energies of some of those gentlemen holding Provincial appoint, mentsbeendevoted to making roads or other useful public-works. I [appily, however, tho days of official mismanagement and favoritism are numbered, and the drones in the hive of industry will cither be made to work, or betake themselves to a more genial clime. Local self-government will quickly rid us of the hydra-headed monster, ad for its own protection, see' that the public funds are not frittered away in unproductive works There will lie no more " killing the goose for the sake of the golden efgs" and if we only possess sufficient intelligence and tact to work for our own advantage, we shall have the opportunity of doing so. We wish the movement made by our Alexiv dra friends, the most unqualified success, anil feel assured, that with united action, the liol Iflelds Towns will soon be in a position to keep to themselves what has hitherto been taken away and spent elsewhere.