THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 337, 12 March 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1868.

The County Council appointed a Committee to sit duriu.n; the recess, to enquire and report on the present distribution of the Customs' duties collected at this port between the Province of Nelson aud the County of Westland. A>.t present the Nelson Government takes one - half of the Customs' duties, out of -which it only pays half the salary of the signalman. The whole expenses of the Harbor Master's Department and the Customhouse are paid out of the County's share, whilst not a siugle shilling docs the Nelson Government contribute towards carrying out the works necessary to maintain the port in a state of efficiency. The reason why an arrangement which is not to be found in auy other port in the colony is allowed to exist here is that a large proportion of the dutyable goods imported to Greymouth is consumed by the inhabitants of the adjoining province. Perhaps there is no more than justice in this division, but it, is, nevertheless, one of the many other anomalous circumstances in which this district is placed. Whilst a large revenue is derived by Nelson from this port, the greater proportion of it is spent out of the district. Liberal as the Nelsou Government has been in its expenditure, it caunot be said that the Grey portion of its territory has received the full benefit of the half share of the Greymouth customs. Most of it lias been diverted to other portions of the Nelson South^West Gold Fields. And, as we have just mentioned, not a farthing has been given by the Nelson Government towards preserving the port, or defraying the cost of col. lecting the revenue. The maintenancee of the port is clearly an obligation which ought to be shared between the two Governments so long as they share its revenues. But, judging from the tone of the letter sent by the Superintendent of Nelson, in reply to a l-equest that his Government would bear half the expense of the Harbor-master's department at this port, we do not think that any attempt to establish a more equitable arrangement would be successful. The ouly way to put an end to the anomalous position of the port is to obtain a readjustment of the boundary. It was for this that the inhabitants of this district desired to be annexed to the Province of Nelson. It wasnotso much from any special lovefor the Nelson Government, as in, order to secure one Government for a district naturally and commercially one, but divided by a boundary -which ought not to exist. The reasons which existed then exist still, in even a greater degree; and another attempt must be made to terminate them. The results of the presefit arrangement are seriously inimical to the progress of the district. The cost of administration is considerably increased. Iv the first place, the whole expense of the Customs' Department, which amount to about L3OOO a-year, and of the Harbor Master, are paid out of the County's half of the revenue ; secondly, the County has to pay all the cost of embanking the river, and maintaining the Wharf. Again, an additional Warden has to be kept, when the whole work might be done by J two were the whole basin of the Grey in one district. But we need not go into the many minor inconveniences ; and evils which result from the existing arrangement ; suffice it to say, that the Grey District will be retarded so long as it prevails. How to proceed to effect an, alteration is a subject which demands serious consideration. Three plans present themselves : — First, the old scheme of Annexation to Nelson ; second, the extension of the County of Westland to some arbitrary line north of the Grey River ; or, third, the formation of a new County from the Teremakau northwards beyond the Grey. With regai-d to the first proposal, we may shortly dismiss it for several reasons. To begin with, we doubt if the General Assembly — and certainly the present Government would no t — would care to retrace its steps by making any concession to Provincialism. But our objection to it is that provided the County Act be amended according to the recommendations of the County Council, it will provide an infinitely

better Government than Nelson could give us. Should the County Act be altered as proposed, it will place the disposition of the local revenues, and the management of.Jocal affairs, directly in the hands of those concerned, in a degree which cannot be found in Provincialism. Whether or not it would be more advantageous to have a separate County for the Grey District, or to extend the boundaries of the present one, is a question which we reserve for a future article.