LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 387, 7 July 1868, Page 2

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

(To the Editor of the Grey River Argus.} Sin — Yonr article on the, annexa#on of the north side of the river with the County of Westland, for the ostensibly purpose of simplifying government transactions, appears to me and many of your unbiassed readers to b<j perfectly iufeles3, and I will give you cogent reasons fop saying so^ Fiist, the people of the north wont have it at any price ; they have been watching all the bungling and jobbery which has been carried" on by the Road Boards. By the bye, they are called Road Boards— save the, mark ! Wharf Boards would have been n^ore. appropriate. They have reserved their experiments upon roadmaking for some future and in-* definite period when they can manage to borrow money. They suppose of course they nmst be in the fashion, and by the foundation of a County debt, but' if they could to get the L 25 ,000 which goes yearly to the other side, it would suit better, after having squandered. all the 'available revenue in protecting their own places of business and enhancing the* value of Maori land, they now cry out — Qh, there are no funds to make roads for the diggers without raising a loan. If such has been the management, or, rather mismanagement,, of legislators of the experimental County, would you be surprised that the north side do not care to cast in their lot with them and cast off a a government that has done all in their power to protect and make not tinpot warehouses by the mile, but good roads, wherever it is satisfactorily shown that they are required, and that^as speedily aa possible^ so that the people are. very well satisfied to remain as they remain. They are no fools', they know from what they

have already seen what their share of the revenue would be Trere the Grey Road Board to have the fingering of it. They would perhaps find out that the streets of Greymonth required decking with 3 x 12 red pine planking. Now, sir, since the people of the Nelson side are contented with what they get, and they generally get what they want, •why should any meddling politicians try to sow the seeds of dissention between a government and her outlying districts ; to say the least of it it is not very neighbourly. If Sir Harrison at the late meeting at Cobden could have adduced any ono good which could or would accrue to the north aide from its connection with Woatland, he might hare gained adherents, but he failed to' do so ; tlio facts were too glaringly apparent (and "facts are stub born things") that all the gain would be on one side and all tho risk, nay certain loss, on the other, so the benighted people cf the Nelson side would not bo convinced, and begged to decline the honor of a partnership on any terms. They are so blinded that they are willing to forego the serene pleasure of local self-government which the County system offers and which you bo strongly advocate, so that it is no use striving with them. " They are joined to their idols, let them alone." "Where ignorance ia bless, 'twere folly to be wise." I am, &c. , RUdTICUS. [Our correspondent seems to be ignorant of the fact that the Grey District Road Board receives two-twelfths of the surplus revenue for the sole purpose of carrying on the protective works, and the remaining two-twelftlis are appropriated io the making of roads and tracks in the country districts.}— Ed. G.li.A.