SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1867.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 168, 9 February 1867, Page 2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1867.

DuniXG tho kto session of the Pro. vincial Council several sums of money were voted fo.v public ■works iv this district. The various purposes to "which this money was to be devoted related to works of immediate necessity, • the cawying out of which admitted of no delay— the piling of the liver bank, for instance, the prompt completion of which was urged as being positively needed for the protection of the town and the security of the river navigation. But-omless the Executive shows itself more A expeditious m giving practical effect to the votes of the Council, it is exceedingly likely that the votes will lapse altogether^ and the several works be indefinitely deferred. The financial period covered by the appropriations termhnites in ; June, and all votes not carried into effect, either by the completion of the works in connection with them j or bycontracts entered iato in. that behalf, will lapse at that time... It is absolutely necessary, therefore, that the Government should be urged to. fulfil its executive functions, and at once take- 7 ' steps' for carrying out the various works proposed. The visit of the Governor, beneficial as it may be, will certainly not be an unmixed good if it should prove so far to have interfered with the practical work of government as to delay the Ministry in attending to the immediate wants of the country, and we take this opportunity of drawing attention to the possible effects of any dilatoriiiess iii the expenditure of the money, voted for this district. "We believe it is the intention"' of the Superin, tendent to visit Westland shortly, and we would point out the advisability of steps being adopted for urging Ms Honor to cause the vaiious works sanctioned by the Council to be commenced with out delay. It is a tacit reproach on the Executive.; .to suppose that any expression of public opinion should be necessary. One would have thought that .the present Ministry commanded sufficient confidence to; cause the public to rest contented, and rely: on: its good faith and the interestijit^has professed with regavd to "Westland 'affairs. But the fact remains that nothing has been clone, find that time is fivst passing awjiy. The Provincial Engineer was here re-., ceutly, but we believe ho chiefly confined himself to an examinatiou of the Coal reserve, and , the consideration of plans feu working it. He may certainly

liave made a cursory examination of the river bank, and possibly lie has a report rpadv on the subject of protecting it against the ravages of the river. But we Jjave little faith in the traditional circumlocution whiclj somehow q? other iv variably atteucls 'affairs of this sort, and it is c[uite possible there will be so much time lost in enquiries of one sort or another that the vote will lapse befure anything is done. We therefoi-e think it advisable that ox.tra steps should be taken m the public interest, and that some definite expression of public opinion should be made to arouse the Government to action, It should not be forgotten that a Government in recess, and one during the sittings of the Council, are very frequently totally different in their character. Believed of all immediate pressure,, the Ministry can now rule the roost in its own way, auclin the absence of any symptoms to the contrary'we are justified in fearing an indisposition to give* full effect to the votes passed in behalf of . public works for this district, The course we would recommend would be this : That the Improvement Committee (which although practically defunct, still exists as the only public body iv Greymouth) should draw up a memorial, embodyiug the urgent wish of the inhabitants that/prompt effect be given to the vote's, of the Council for this district. This memorial should be submitted to a public meeting, which would give an opportunity for recording the opinions of tlie public, and when adopted be presented to his Honor when he next arrives at Greymouth. Such a course presents no difficulty, and it would, without assuming to trench on the discretion of the Government, show the Superintendent that the inhabitants were earnestly watching- the conduct of the Executive, and were fully alive to their own interests. ¥c do not pi'esume to dictate to the public, but we throw out the suggesiion we have made in the full belief that its adoption would tend to the advantage of the district. We would, therefore, hope that the members of the Improvement Committee will 'take it-into-consideration. They are entrusted with the. interests of the town, and after tlie explanation we have made, we think they must see the advisability of taking actiou in some form or other so as to secure to the district the benefits contemplated by the votes of the Council. . IJopingj therefore, that.our remarks /may prove of service, we leave the matter in their hands, and can only add that any course they may think., best will receive our support. 1 :