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Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 270, 5 October 1867, Page 2

Well might our Hokitika couteni.porary characterise the intelligence of the last "coup" of Mr. Mpothouse as •" astpunjimg." After having so thankfully re.ceive.d -the Couuty ISill at the hands of thq Gpyernment, and sp humbly thrown themselves af MiyStafford's feet, tp find that at the last they have, been "soldj" ujust be peculiarly' distressing to the Westland Separation Leagjie. We have very little hpsitatioa in believing that had the Government been so disposed, Mr Moorhpuse's jnt quitous proposal regarding the allocation of the debt Aypuld never liay/3 been carried. The -Government had so "far commanded a majority on #ip Bill, and had they been. actuated by that honesty of purpose towards Westland, by whic}i Our Hokitika friends so blindly believed them tp be, they could have carried tli.e Bill through as it stood. The original clause in the County Bill relating to the allocation of the Capterbury flebt prpvided that the amount to be appoiv tioued to Westliind should be settled by arbitration. T-his is the manner in which the division of indebtedness has been arranged in previous cases of Separation, Npw it is almost impossible that any honest arbitrators could b.ave saddled Westland with more than a comparatively inconsiderable portion of the Canterbury debt, and this Mr Moorljouse kneNy, and so he proposes that the proportion of the debt shall be regulated by the duties. Now, as Westland's Customs Kevcnue is in about the proportion pf two to one as compared with Eastland, it follows that two-thirds of the public debt of the Province of Canterbury will have to be borne by Westland !- The annual charges for interest and sinking fund of the loans amount to .£58,000, of which sum Westland will have to pay £39,000 ! And let it not be forgotten that although the Customs Kevenue may fall off this iniquitous charge must still be borne. Anythingi'^nore completely contrary to the spirit of the" Hokitika petition could scarcely be conceived. Besides, it is notorious throughout the colony that Westland's great grievance against Canterbury is that the - Government and Council desired to charge the revenues of the district with liabilities incurred for the benefit of Eastland. A great cry was made .. against the attempt to charge Westland with the Christchurch road, but what will be said now at some .£40,000 a year being taken out of the revenues of the district and applied td paying loans of which not a pennypiece was ever expended iv the district] One-thing, and only one thing, must be done if the County Bill passes, and that is to absolutely refuse to act under ifc. As far as the Grey district is concerned we would strongly advise that the people should refuse to accept the Act or carry out its provisions, and by every constitutional means oppose its operation. There is just a chance that the TJjDper House may- send the Bill back with amendments, or that it may be altogether thrown out on its third reading. A telegram from the'Aunexation Committee to the-OEon. J. C. was sent on Tlunfilay, informing the Government. of the intense I dissatisfaction "with the Bill, and praying him to get its provisions modified or its progress arrested in the Upper House. Should the worst happen, and the Bill be passed, probably the delegate from this district will be able to give the Government good reasons for delaying its operation.