A MODEL A DDRESS.

Evening Star, Issue 3150, 25 March 1873, Page 2

A MODEL A DDRESS.

The following nddrcss, which wc are forced to believe is written in a satirical strain, appears in the Grey River Arjus, and is said to have been prepared for presentation to Mr Curtis, .Superintendent of Nelson ; “ On the occasion of j our last visit to Charleston, your Honor vviil doubtless remember, if the affairs of the State Lave not weighed too heavily upon you, that you made a few trifling promises to the inhabitants of this district, the whole of which we have been desired to thank you sincerely fur having performed strictly to the letter, with that high spirit for truthfulness for which you have become proverbial; and we feel that we have great reason to be grateful in finding ourselves placed under the governance of one who is so scrupulously exact and prompt in performing whatever he promises, as your Honor. Such exemplary conduct on the part of a ruler, to whatever degree his authority may extend, cannot but meet the approbation, and command the love and esteem of those who are put under authority, but also with well merited reward from the governors of the Colony.

We regret excedingly that your Honor’s ad* ministration should oe in the power of condemnation by a few croaking political fanatics, and also at the mercy of a prostituted Press, but we would beg to assure your Honor neither the (ue nor the other reprrsents the true state of public feeling, cither in this district or the Coast throughout. We assure you, Sir, on behalf of the residents of Charleston, that our feelings are most loyal towards you, and our only regret is, that from the degeneracy of the times, and the lack of public spirit and enterprise, we are not in a position to place at the disposal of your Honor a far larger amount of revenue than we are at present doing, so that you might be enabled to lay it out, as it has ever been your pleasure to do, to our benefit in the conduct of necessary and convenient public works, or in the appointment of a few more dels'll paupers to comfortable offices, at good salaries.” “We feel also. Sir, whatever to the contrary your natural delicacy may prompt you to deny, that, with the little revenue we have placed at your disposal, out of the excess of good feeling you bear to the Coast residents in general, you have done all that possibly could have been done therewith ; and, therefore, if we labor at any time which, however, happens at very rare intervals—under the disadvantages, and from the inconvenience of impassable roads, brokendown bridges, want of tracks, unjust and harsh mining rules, exorbitant mining fees and charges, inattention to individual wants at head-quarters, 1 >ng and serious delays in the issue and registration of mining leases, and the transaction of all routine business in the departments over which you have control, or any negligence whatsoever, or wheresoever, we fully deserve such, and that the fault is traceable only ta insufficient revenue returns, and not for a moment to be attributed to any prejudice against us on your part, or to any deficiency in the amiability of your character. And, while assurin' you of this fact, we would also take this opportunity of expressing our unfeigned regiet at being compell. d now to believe the remarks on more than one occasion uttered by you, and believed in by the residents of Nelson proper, but denied by the aforesaid hireLiny scribes, and broken down politicians, to the effect that the West Coast Goldfields have ever been a drag on the pecuniary resources of the ‘settled’ districts.” “We trust, however, Sir, that the time is not far distant when, from our increased riches looming in the distance, and becoming day by day more. apparent as the fruits of your political foresight and good government, that the goldfields may be able to repay the parent cry tenfold what they are indebted to her. Indeed on our own part, we would beg of you to retain for her use whatever revenue may now come to hand from this district, and, if possible, to increase our taxation, so that we may the sooner repay what we are now indebted. Our wants have since your last visit been so consistently and persistently attended to, that we feel not the slightest inconvenience will result to us, should your Honor not again devote to our use any of our trifling revenue for the next twelve months or two years, but allow matters to remain as they are.”

“ With a view to this end, during your short stay, we would request your Honor to devote your time to noting in what direction you could cm tail departmental expenditure, and at the request of the miners, whom we likewise represent, in what further way you could increase the merely nominal fees contributed by them to all departments of the revenue. It would be simple impertinence on our part, under existing circumstances, to request your attention to the trivial wants of the inhabitants, but if you could spare a moment or two of your valuable time in which to make them a few more promises (synonymous in your eases with performances) the favor would most gracefully be accepted. If, however, your time will be too much occupied, or the weighty burthen State affairs require, and the Province would be more benetitted by your complete cessation from original business during your visit, in order that you may recruit your jaded and weary spirit* prior to the coming contest, we would beg of you for any sake not to distress yourself on our account, as your next visit will suffice to state those requirements, whilst their performance at any future date you may appoint is all the consideration we feel humhly we deserve.” “In conclusion, Sir, though desirous of asking many favors, we feel we should not be justified in so doing when we remember the many for which we are already indebted to your government; we will therefore leave it to your Honor’s extreme sensitiveness to determine, and your well-known liberality of action to execute what may seem to you expedient and necessary, not only for our welfare, but our comfort, begging of you, at the same time, not to allow of your esteem for us to over-rule your better judgment to the detriment of the interests of Nelson and suburbs, the welfare of which we would not for a moment tolerate you to neglect whilst thinking of the goldfields districts.” “ On bel&lf of the residents we welcome your Honor right heartily to our district, and we can assure you, Sir, as heretofore, anything you may be pleased to utter in public will be carefully noted, and any promises you may be so good as to make, will be considered as equivalent to their performance. We may be allowed this opportunity to remark to your Honor, that we regret, as no doubt does your Honor, that your term of . office of Superintendent is drawing to a close ; but, sir, at the same time, we feel confident that your consistent course of action will be taken into consideration by the goldfields communities at the forthcoming contest for the office of Superintendent; and on behalf of the inhabitants of this district we beg to assure you that no effort will be wanting on their part to endeavor to place you in that position on the poll which they have every reason to consider you are deserving of.”