THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 399, 4 August 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1868.

It is to be hoped that the members for Westland in the General Assembly will not overlook the fact that there is a question pending between the County and the Province of Nelson, which ousght to be settled during the present session — a question which materially affects the welfare and prosperity of Greymouth. We refer to the present system upon which the revenue raised in this town is divided between the County to which it properly belongs and Nelson ; and the cavalier manner }n wh.ich we have hitherto been treated, hy th,e Government of that Province. Hitherto our Custom's revenue has been equally divided, although it is all collected in Wejstland ; and we believe the Act of the Assembly which regulates the distribution of tho surplus revenue of the Colony^ provides that it shall be given in certain proportions to the Provinces in which it is raised. Whether this be so or not, the f.a.ct remains that ont-!ialf of the revenues of this port is diverted from the legitimate objects upon which it ought to be expended, and goes to carry out public works at Nelson and Westpor", The representative of the Westland Boroughs is

well aware of this state of affair, and i 8 ready to point them out to the House ; but his efforts may nqt be successful, unless he receives the, strong and hearty support of the other Westland members, and we tnis,t they will give their earnest attention to the matter. 4 s we ha. v § frequently pointed out, there is, no reason why the Westland half of the revenue should be called upon to bear almost the whole cost of the maintenance of the port at which it is, raised, while the other half pays a mere fraction— ra portion of the salaries of two of the hajbor officials. That Government has. been repeatedly called ujjon to contribute towards the construction of those, protective works, through which it might ahnqac ba said the port now exists; but it has as frequently declined to bear any share of this, expenditure. Carrying #iis principle further, it has refused to pay any s,haro of the cost of the whari, the, custqm-houß,e building, and sheds, and, strangely enough, has be.en allowed to go free. B,ut, in order tp s.how that it is, quitg alive, to the justice of the principle that the public works and buildings atljhe port should be maintained equally between the two Governments, a short time agq it applied to the, Westland Government to pay one-half of the cost of sqme trifling repairs to the Signalman's house, on the North Spit. Why the claim should be. just when Nelson makes it, and unjust when Westland makes it, it is impossible to see j and as this state qf things has now gone on for years, without any attempt ajfc adjustment, there must now be a nice little amount to settle between the two Governments. Our members ought to insist upon such a settlement ; one which, shall be reckoned siuca the establishment of the port, and one in which, we venture to assert, a very handsome bajwee, will appear- to the credit of Westland, Tq effect this purpose, a Select Committee of the House of Representatives should be moved for by our member, |n order that evidence may be taken, and the f ullqs,t enquiry made. We. have, no doubt as tq tb,q result ; the justice of the claim being so apparent. Should this be refused, another course is open to our representatives — one which should only be taken in that event — either to move, for an extension of the boundary line of the County of Westland north to Razorback, so as to embrace both banks Qf the Grey, or the. establishment of a new County from the Teramakau to Razorback, with Greymouth for its centre, s,o that the surplus proportion of the revenues raised at the port, and legitimately belonging to it, may go to swell the Westlaud coffers, or the funds of the new County, We do not intend to go further into the question a.t present, as we have frequently discussed it of late, and its merits are well known ; but we must express the hope that the present sess?on of Parliament will not be allowed to pass without an earnest and determined effort be,uig made by the members of Wesfcland to p2^ce Qraymonbh in tlje position which it has a right to occupy, and which is occupied by all the other ports in the Colony.