THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY MAY 26,1866.

Grey River Argus, Issue 58, 26 May 1866, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY MAY 26,1866.

Sq much apathy is evinced respecting the political interests of. this district that we begin to doubt whether there is really any public spirit at all in the community. It is surprising that this indifference should exist of all places at Greymouth: — a district which has suffered sq much from Government neglect, and which has been the Ipudest in its complaints and demands. If the district is ever tp receive full justice at the hands of the Canterbury Government, it will be by means of its being well represented in the Provincial Council ', and as the approaching election will be the first opportunity the ' inhabitants have had of making thenir {.splyes heard inthe local Legislature, it is incomprehensible that So little apparent interest . should be felt in the matter. It would seem as if it were thought that the subject really does not concern the inhabitants generally,. and that \t does not affect the interests of _any|4vb a few. ]But surely there arc Lno^- many who are so shortsighted as

not to see that the question of adequate representation in thes Provincial (3ouneil , involves more or less the interests of / ev<ery member of the. community;. On the satisfactory or . otherwise manner in which the district is represented, depends whether the evils and grievances so long complained of are to be. ! redressed, or whether they are to continue. Surely then there is something even culpable in the indifference and apathy which appears now to prevail. We can understand as one possible cause for this want of public interest that there is a* very wide and genei'al disinclination to cultivate any closer relations with the Canterbury Government, .and a desire to cast oijf tlie yoke altogether. And we have heard many persons say, " what is the use of sending members to the Canterbury Provincial Council, if we are to be annexed to Nelson '?" Now even supposing that the prospect of annexation to Nelson was a certain one, which it is not, it would still be foolish to abandon any existing advantage ; but to relinquish it when any possible future gain is uncertain would he the height of absurdity. It is very possible that if gone about in the proper way the annexation to Nelson may be brought about, but it is also possible that the attempt may fail. What bad tactics it would be to neglect the undoubted advantage our outpost in. the Provincial Council gives us, simply because we have a -grand "coup cl 1 etat" in view. It is within the bounds of possibility that the new Superintendent of Canterbury may initiate a policy the liberality of which may disarm the present hositility to the Government, but unless the district is well represented and can make its wants clearly known, it is impossible that it can enjoy all the benefits of that policy In whichever way the subject is rc- | garded it must be evident to all thinking persons that it is really of the utmost importance that more true public spirit ! should be enlisted in deciding who is to represent the district in the Provincial Council. But whilst striving to gain every possible advantage from Canterbury, the people should not the less exert themselves to accomplish the scheme of annexation to Nelson. We regard that measure as the only one that can ever prove satisfactory to this district, and as one that will, if carried out, be th 6 mean's of giving this port a position of importance it can never hope otherwise to gain. It must not however be forgotten that il this is to be brought about at all it must be done speedily, and if the present opportunity is neglected and the matter allowed to remain in abeyance, the Avhole all'air will fall to the ground. In politics as in war, there is a time to wait, and a time to act — in the present case the time is jn-e--eminently one for action.