THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 513, 1 May 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1869.

It appeal^ to be very probable that a large proportion of the public works authored an.d sanctioned by the County Council at its last session will have to be indefinitely postponed. It has trans* pir-ed that the arrangements entered into provisionally by the Council with the manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Hokitika, has fallen through, and that the expected overdraft of £20,000 is not likely to be forthcoming. A circular issued by the General Government to the Banks, cautioning them against making unauthorised advances to Provincial Governments has proved sufficiently effectual to prevent the Hokitika manager from carrying out his offer. In the meantime large contracts have been entered into, upon the strength of the expected advance, and the result is likely to approach something like a dead-lock. It will be remembe^d that when the proposal to effect this loan — for it was nothing else — was first mooted in the Council, it was strongly opposed by Messrs Blmar, Harrison, # aud Sale ; because they felt assured that the Council had no legal power to borrow. Their objections were overruled by the other members, who, led by a " will o' the wisp" politician iv the person of Mr Rees, conceived that they could set all the Acts of the Colonial Parliament at defiance, and that they were entirely beyoud the reach of the restraining authority of the General Government. There was no difference of opinion in the Council as to the necessity of throwing the whole County open by means of roads, or as to the advantage of borrowing money for the purpose. The only ground of difference was the propriety of borrowing without legal authority and entering upon large and costly public' works under such circumstances. The three members who objected to the proposed advance from the Bank, were actuated only by a fear that some such " fix" would occur as that which has now happened. They endeavored to convince the Council by referring to the various Acts bearing on the question, that they not only did not possess borrowing powers, but that in eudeavoriug to obtain an advance from the Bank they were contemplating a direct violation of the law. But unfortunately the County Council of Westland is possessed of a legal member who reads Acts of Parliament by a process original and peculiar, and who, still more unfortunately for the interests of the County, manages to lead the weaker minds into his own' groove. Mr Rees was the pleasant gentleman who accused one of the members — Mr Harrison, we think — of endeavoring to frighten the Council by that " bugbear" (so he styled it), the General Government. In substanceMr Rees said — " What do we care for the ' Geneial; Government or the General Assembly % Their prohibitory Acts only relate to Provinces — we are not a Province, and therefore we can set the law at defiance," Mr Rees was so far right, in, that he discovered the only loophole through which it was possible, in the strict interpretation of the law, for the Council to evade the various Acts. No doubfc the word Province or Provincial Council does not necessarily apply to the County, but the whole spirit of the Acts under which the General Government has now interfered, is that no local Government shall borrow without legal authority, But Mr Rees and those who acted with him forgot that the Government of a Colony lias powerful, if unseen, means of coercing oiFending bodies witii obedience. Tho General Government had no power

to prevent the County Council borrow ing, but it had the power of preventing it being able tq find, a lender in the Jfehape of a bank, The recent circular prohibits thp bank lending money to the Couuty Council, only by inference \ it only applies to " Provinces," but has been sufficiently forcible to stop the expected advance from the Bank of New Zealand, We are not surprised at this state of affairs, - The County Council rushed hastily, a.nd agaipst mos.t authoritative protests into a course of action winch could only, at some time or other, have led it into difficulties. No doubt the country needed, to be opened up, and the works authorised were likely to advance the welfare of the County, But there is such a thing as cutting one's coat according to one's cloth, Canterbury and Southland have both found out the truth of this old aphorism* Their railways were excellent works, they were calculated to confer great benefits ultimately, but they have landed one Province into bankruptcy, and burdened the other with drains upon its revenue, which, but for the fortuitous aid of Westland, would be intolerable, The County Council should have confined itself to administering as economically and efficiently as it could its legitimate revenues, and if it needed extraneous assistance it should have endeavored to obtain proper authority to borrow. It might not have succeeded in getting this power, but that was the proper course to have adopted. We understand that Mr Hoos is about to visit Wellington to press upon the General Government the necessity of relaxing its restrictions in favor of the County. We hope lie may succeed, because if he does not, a great scandal will arise. It would be a pr«tty picture to find this much-lauded County of Westlaud placed in an insolvent position through the iuconsiderateuess and want of prudence on the part of its Council. But we confess that we forsee little probability of his visit being of any use. The Ministry cannot alter the law, and it is simply the provisions of the law of the land which, they have enforced.

It is proposed that the Queen's Birthday should be celebrated by a festival of all the Friendlies Societies, the proceeds to be devoted to the Grey River Hospital. In order to do this in a successful manner, these Societies are requested to send delegates to a meeting to be held at Hunt's Club Hotel, on Monday next at S p.m , to make the necessary arrangements. The Borough Council has consented to the conditions proposed by the Trustees of the Religious Institute to take over the building. The lease is for ninety -nine years, and was signed and stamped on behalf of the Council on Thursday evening. A lucky purchase of a share in a claim on the Stoney Lead, South Beach, was mentioned to us the other day. The share was bought for £100, and the dividend on the first washing up returned the purchaser £90 on his share. The petition which we lately mentioned as about to be transmitted to the County Chairman for the division of the town into Wards was on Thursday night presented to the Borough Council for endorsement, but was refused, because it was not addressed to that body. It is stated that a counter petition is to be, or is being, signed ; but the original one bears the signature of the majority of the ratepayers. At Hokitika, on Thursday night last, the brethren of the Pacific Lodge of Freemasons presented Brother P.M. Rice with an address and jewel in testimony of their regard and esteem, and in appreciation of his valuable services as W.M. during the past two years. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday, before W. H. Revell, Esq., R.M., and W. H. Harrison, Esq., .T.P., George Manse was fined 10s, or 24 hours' imprisonment, for having been drank and disorderly. George Morton was charged, on the information of Edward Perkins, with stealing a gold watch and chain, of the value of £20. On the application of Mr Sub- Inspector James the prisoner was remanded to Cobden. On the civil side of the Court, the following cases were heard :— Wm. Gould v. Emily Thompson — claim of £5. Judgment confessed . James Johnston v. R. Kilgour— Adjourned on application until Tuesday. Henry Jones .v. M. Griffiths — Judgment by default for £4 15s and costs. All the cases under the extended jurisdiction were adjourned until Tuesday. Yesterday there was no business before the Court. The nomination of candidates for the seat in the County Council, vacated by Mr Sale, took place at Hokitika on Wednesday. The gentlemen nominated were, Messrs Cassius Reeves, and Shaw. It is confidently anticipated that Mr Cassius will be returned. We have the following details of a new rush at Napoleon's, from our own correspon. dent, under date "Ahaura, Feb. 29.":— " I have much pleasure in being able to report a new rush in the vicinity of the Napoleon diggings. It is situate at Mosquito Creek, in the bed of which workings have long been carried ou. This new lead has been discovered in the terrace towards the head of the creek, and was first discovered by sinking a shaft 50 feet in depth. There are now about fifty men on the ground, and several claims have been opened, most of them by means of a tunnel from the face. I had a conversation with Houston and party

who opened the Yankee's claim at Orwell Creek, and they informed me that they had the best opinion of their claim. The washdirt is about three or four feet thick, somewhat similar to the ground along the Napoleon lead, but not quite so rich, the prospects only averaging about two grains, to the dish. This is, the tipst terrace yet opened still further in the back country than Napoleon, and will, doubtless, merely be the precursor of many others being prospected, the.. i\ature of the country being the same for several miles. There was a rumor of a small: rush towards Canadian Creek yesterday, but I have heard no reliable news concerning it, I shall visit both places ne*t week, and he able to. give more fuller particulars. In a private letter from Wellington, pub. lished by the Daily N6ios, the writer saysT- [ "Mr Haughtonhas resigned his app.oiritme.ut nominally, to attend the Poroviacial Council j of Otago, but really, ft is said, because he has been requested to do so. Strong conaden.ee is felt by the Opposition that the Ministry will be ousted at the commencement of the ensuing session, and Dr. Featherstone and Mr M'Lean are spoken of as likely to be prominent men in the new Government. The men of the Armed Constabulary speak in anything biit complimentary terms of their officers. Notwithstanding Whitmore's vaunts, the force is in anything but a serviceable condition. A case occurred the other day in the Resi* dent Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, in which the manager of a drapery establishment was sued for the cost of an advertisement which appeared for two days in the W. G. Times. It had been ordered without any mention being made of the number of insertions required, and, as- the usual custom is, was continued until countermanded. After ithad appeared two days it was withdrawn, and the charge made was £18 18s., and it was stated that had it been continued for a month the cost would have been only £35 # Judgment was given for the amount claimed and costs. The following is a copy of the address presented to the Prince on behalf of the Loyal Orangemen in Canterbury : — "To His Royal Highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, K.G. K.T., &c, &c, Duke of Edinburgh', Humbly Greeting. — Illustrious Prince — We, Her Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects, the Orangemen of the Province of Canterbury, beg humbly and lovingly to welcome you to these shores, and, although debarred, in compliance with the wishes of the Government, from joining as ah "Order" in the public demonstration, we respectfully entreat your Royal Highness to accept this mute, yet affectionate declaration of our love towards yourself and our beloved Sovereign Queen Victoria. Whilst for the second time addressing your Royal Highness, we would now more especially assure you of our loyalty and devotion to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and that glorious Constitution oi which she is, under God, the supreme head. Be pleased to accept our prayers and best wishes for your present and future welfare, in the earnest hope that your Royal Highness may continue until the close of a long, a happy, and a useful life to be beloved as you now are ; and that the blessing of the Most High may rest upon your Royal Highness, Her Majesty the Queen, and all the members of your Royal House, will ever be the constant hope and fervent prayer of your Royal Highness's respectful, humble friends, and her Majesty's dutiful subjects. — The Loyal Orangetneu of the Province of Canterbury, N.Z. — Signed by Grand Master, Grand Secretary, Deputy - Grand Master, Grand Treasurer, Grand Chaplain." The ribbons and seals of the Order were appended to the above address.