THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 488, 2 March 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1869.

Another session of the County Council of Westland terminated on Friday last, and the members, after a long session, have been dismissed to their homes. With the exception of one or two hitches, which must take place at times in every deliberative assembly, the past session L-i one upon which the County as a whole ought to be congratulated. The members have worked hard, and have accomplished much good work, which, if properly carried into effect, must tell immensely upon the future prosperity of the County. They recognised the principle for which we have all along contended, that the first step in advance must be. the opening up of the country, in order to enable the miners to develop its resources, and to assist in the settlement of the people upon the lands. For this purpose the Council has voted very large sums of money, which can only be spent contingent upon its being obtained on loan from the Bank. Judging from the confident tone in which the Chairman of the Council spoke on this subject, there is little doubt that the moneywill be obtained, and we are glad to hear that he is equally coufident in his ability to see to its being spent in accordance with the resolutions of the Council, and in as expeditious a manner as possible. He stated that he expected within the next two months to have all the public works for which votes were passed in course of construction. Should he be able to carry out his statement he will earn the best thanks of the community, and do more to advance the prosperity of the County than was done by the Canterbury Go\ eminent during the three previous year's. Since Mr Hoos' election he has displayed an amount of energy and administrative ability for which he did not receive credit, and it is to \w hoped that during the period when he will have the supreme governiug power in his hands, that his actions will not belie the promises which he made while the Council was in session. The task he has before him is no easy one, aud amid the circs of office, and the claims of local bodies, which will be thrust upon him, that he will not loose sight of the wauts of this district. The amount of consideration it has hitherco received at the hands of the governing bodies has been very small indeed, and even during the session of the Council that has just closed, when the wants of the outlying districts were supposed to be most particularly watched over, it has not obtained bare justice. It has not been dealt with iv a fair evenhanded manner. Its revenue has been taken away to be spent elsewhere, and the feeling of discontent, which lias long prevailed, instead of being dissipated, has been strengthened. This is not the fault of the County system, but is to be attributed to a combination which was made amongst the country members to obtain as much money as possible for their respective districts.- We give them the credit of saying that they were sincere in their intentions to advance the interests of their constituents. They have done so at the expense of the towns, and also of this district as a whole. The Chairman can do little even should he be so inclined, to remedy the evil which has been done ; but we trust that in minor matters he will give the wants of this district more of his attention than it has received from his predecessors, and that hd will keep in view the fact that the prompt disbursement of the small sum which has been voted is essentially necessary for the prosperity both of the town and district.