THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 373, 4 June 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1868.

The indisposition of the residents of Cobdea to be incorporated with the County of Westland is not a matter of surprise. Apart from the little local jealousies, which tu-e always, however improperly, imported into questions of this kiud, the inhabitants of the Nelson portion of the Grey district have on the whole had good reasons to be satisfied generally with the treatment •they have received at the hands of the Nelson Government. Until the removal of the official headquarters to Westport led to a relaxation of that attention to thejr wants which used to exist, the people of the Cobdeu and Upper Grey districts enjoyed a Jarge share of Government expenditure and supervision, and it would be wrong to expect that they can at quce forget this, and withdraw theii allegiance from the Nelson Government. It does not, however, tollow that because they have been on the whole well treated, they should allow any merely sentimental considerations to prejudice them against a change — if that change can be shown to be in every respect a desirable one. Due regard must also be had to other circumstances whiclj make it imperative that any question of a change of Government should be seriously considered, Our friends, on the other side seem, according to the resolution they carried at Mr. Harrison's meeting the other night, indisposed to join the existing County of Westland, but would not object to upite with the Grey district to form a separate County from the Teremakau northwards. They seem to have some vague s>uspJLcion that incorporation with the County of Westlund will involve some serious sacrifice of their resources. Such an objection is simply foolish, and cannot be supported by any argument whatever. The only reason for dissenting from the proposal, which may be considered to have any validity at all, is that the revenues of the new portion of tlie extended Couuty would be liable to bear a proportion of the debt charged to Westlaud on account of Canterbury. Although we feel certain that the existing arrangement respecting the Canterbury debt will be materially modified next session of the Assembly, the proportion our neighbors would be called upon to pay would be very much less than the amount of revenue which is withdrawn by the Nelson Government from this district and expended elsewhere, and would be; compensated by savings otherwise. Judging from the tone of opinion amongst the residents of the other side of the Grey, they appear to be mainly actuated, first by a feeling of satisfaction with the Nelson Government, aud second by one of antipathy to being governed from Hokitika. We would not do them the injustice of supposing that they have not sufficient intelligence to estimate the advantages they would derive from a system of local government, such as the amended County Act will confer upon them. They must see that it will be much more conducive to their best interests to have the expenditure of their own revenue and the supply of their own local wauts entirely in their own hands, than to be dependent on the Provincial Council of Nelson — a Council in which I they are virtually unrepresented. At leas f . twenty - five thousand pounds yearly is derived by the Nelson Government from the import and export duties of Greymouth and gold fields taxation, The bulk of this large sum is expended outside the district altogether, Under the proposed new County system such a condition of things would be rendered an impossibility. The people would have an immediate control over the expenditure of their own revenue, and would best know how and where to expend it. We believe that our neighbors fully understand this, and, whilst objecting to join the existing County of Westland, would not be averse to the formation of a new County. It would be a pity for n them to run away with the idea that in

any new iiiTungement of government they could form a fresh County isolated fryiu Greymouth. ; for nothing can be more certain than that ill any change the river Grey will not be allowed to remain a boundary. It is admitted on all sides that geographically, commercially, and in association of interests the whole Valley of the Grey is, or ought to be, united under one form of government. If the inhabitants of the other side refuse to join Westland as at present constituted, the people of the Grey must endeavor to unite with them in au effort to get a new County, We think there are "maify reasons why union with the present County is politically to be preferred to the formation of a new County ; and that it would be undesirable to reduce the County system to a small scale. But if our friends on the other side the river will not unite themselves with Westland, we must try and accomplish the nest best thiug— a new County. Whilst it is just possible that every partition of the existhig Coimty of Westland would meet with considerable opposition, still, we have no doubt that very good positive reasons can be shown, in support of the proposal for a new County. The district— say from the Teiemakau to Razorback — would enjoy a coast line of over fifty miles, an excellent port, a population of some six thousand souls, and a net revenue of £50,000 or £60,000 per annum. If anything like a united effort were n>ade> we have little doubt that a new County as proposed could be obtained. As we have before said, wo think that the extension of the present County is preferable to dividing it; still we regard it as a necessity that in one form or another the whole of the Grey Valleymust be united under one government. And the proposed new County system is infinitely better th^u any form of Provincial institutions.