THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1867.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 189, 30 March 1867, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1867.

The Superintendent's recent official visit to Greymouth presents many topics of discussion, but for the present Aye shall content ourselves with a general revieAv of his Honor's views ancl intentions so far as he allowed them to be known by the various deputations that 'waited upon him. Looking at the 'general results of these deputations we find a large mixture of unsatisfactory vagueness and indecision, with iiberal assurances of undoubted public advantage. Mr Moorhouse has never been celebrated for the gushing frankness Avhich characterises inexperienced statesmen, and it is hardly a matter of sur> prise chat on this occasion he should manifest considerable reserve, still less are Aye surprised, that as his Honor the Superintendent he is less liberal in promises than when he first visited Greymouth as a candidate for the ofiice he noAv holds. On the whole, however, the pxiblichave reason to be satisfied with the policy his Honor has euuu ciated. Undoubtedly he has grasped the key to the future prosperity- and progress of this part of the province, and if he only acts as vigorously in unlocking the sources of that prosperity as he professedly intends to do, we may regard his administration with confidence. The great* principle which his Honor has laid down. as the basis of the •Government policy with regard to Westland must be generally recognised as the true one. " Open up the country" is his Honor's motto, and it onty remains that his- Government should prove itself equal to the task to ensure the future well being of Yfestland. His Honor's visit will have made knoAvri to him the most pressing necessities of the various districts, and avc think he will find it to be quite sufficient an undertaking to supply these as- they arise Avithout indulging in ambitious projects of less immediate urgency^^ll akniij the Canterbury Government ha.s been -beltoiffnarM^^ up the discoveries of the miners by proTn^rfraxijiSiriiTa^i^ng^ireii^evelopment. No district in the Nelson goldfields has found it necessary to bring" pressure on the Government to providethe various means for developing the' country which it is the duty of all Governments to supply. No parallel case can be quoted in' Nelsoimfr-'-that of the miners in Maori Gullyjll l 0 f or two years have been '<^^Kj9H;]ccent ■Ma^if ecaimiumaiti^^^^^B. iVe the

Saltwater district to memorklisQ for every road they required. His llpx&f may shelter the neglect of the Gtjvmimeut by the argument that it wished to know exactly what the wants of the goldfields really are before talcing action. This may be all very well, but as the essence of all successful administration in new and undeveloped countries consists in promptness of action, the course pursued is open to the great objection of d.clay. In future the Government ought so to organise its channels of knowledge that it may always be in possession of the fullest and most impartial information. Eeliance on memorials 'lays the Government open frequently tQ thp clanger pi furthering s.el/isk interests. In many cases the object of memorials on professedly public questions is interwoven more or less with personal considerations. It is an easy matter 'for a particular storekeeper, or thp owner of a bridge or feny, to get up a memorial for a particular road or privilege which will be of a direct benefit to themselves but which may not actually be the best for the public interest. His Honor appears to have, perhaps unwittingly, taken a wrong 'course' with regard to the tramways which are fast becoming an institution iv Westland. So much uncertainty has been allowed to euvelope the intentions of the Government, as undoubtedly to check private enterprise. We cannot see why | ; his Honor should not avail himself of : his legal powers under the Goldfields' Act, ant] settle the terms of protection to the tramways promptly. ' The case of the proprietors of the short line from Saltwater to Diamond Gully might, it seems to us, have been disposed of without putting them to the expense and delay of themselves preparing terms of agreement for submission to' the Government, and then to the liability of their rejection. Would it not be well for tho Government to issue a proclamation fixing a scale pf rates tp be charged on tramways—s ay, so much per mile iv proportion to the cqst of construction, reserving special cases for special arrangement, His Hpnov's answers to the Improvement Committee Avere exactly what we anticipated them to be. Following out the principle he hacl laid down, he frankly s del that for the future the towns must depend more upon themselves ancl less on the Government for the supply of iheiv local wants. The iirst care of the Government is to develop the country, and so feed the trade on which the towns exist. His Honor's opinions on the subject of a Municipality were exactly a reflex" of those avc have consistently advocated, and Aye think the most earnest objectors to local government must now withdraw their opposition. We have said that there was a certain amount of vagueness in his Honor's replies, and as many of these answers were merely reiterated promises, their fulfilment must be regarded as uncertain. "We trust however that the next session of tne Provincial Council will institute a new era in the administration of Government in Westland, and that hi.s Honor's present visit to the District may slioav its results in wise and beneficial legislation,