PROPOSED NEW COUNTY FOR THE GREY DISTRICT.

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

PROPOSED NEW COUNTY FOR THE GREY DISTRICT.

The largest and most influential meeting ever held in Greymouth took place last evening in the large hall attached to Gilmer's Hotel, which was crowded to overflowing. ■, E. Masteks, Esq., Mayor of the Borough, occupied the chair, and stated that the meeting had been called in consequence of a memorial which was prasented to him, requesting him to call a meeting of the inhabitants for the purpose of considering *the advisability of petitioning the General Assembly for the formation of a separate County from the Teremakau to Razorback. Without entering into the merits of the case, which would be done by other speakers, he' thought it must be evident to the most casual observer that the territory embraced within the limits of the proposed new County, would make a most compact County. - The importance of the movement to the. Grey district could not be over-estimated. It had long been felt by the residents in the town and district that a change in the form of Government was necessary, and the wish had been freely expressed to bring about that change in some form or other, and had now taken the shape of a desire for a separate County. — (Applause.) . Some two years ago an effort was made of a somewhat similar character, in the shape of a petition for annexation to Nelson. A committee was formed to push the matter through, and a petition was prepared, which was unanimously signed and sent to the Assembly. The manner in which that fell through was that our Hokitika neighbors, actuated by a desire to improve their position and counteract the effort being made in the Grey district, prepared a petition for Separation .from Canterbury, which they pushed forward'" and was successful. Our movement was consequently a failure, the Hokitika one was successful, ' and the result was the establishment of the 1 County of Westland. The residents in this 'district had consequently to wait their time, and that time had now arrived, when a movement for the establishment of a County should be entered upon. — (Applause.), , Mr W. Perkins rose to move the first resolution, and was received with applause. He said that before commencing to speak to the resolution he felt some explanation was necessary as to «why so important a duty had fallen to onq who

was perhaps among the youngest residents in the place, The resolution had been pressed upon gentlemen who were more able by long residence and observation among them to do justice to it, but they were unable or unwilling to accept the duty, and it was cast upon him ; so that if he did not do the subject justice he hoped they would forgive him.. — (Ap- ' plaiisej The resolution he had to pre-* pose was, as follows :— " Whereas the General Assembly of New Zealand has recognised the principle- of local self-govern-ment, j and by reason, of the River Grey being the boundary line between.; the Province of Nelson and ,th,e County of: Westland, great injury to the Grey I&ver district is experienced and the cost of Government increased, it is, therefore, in the opinion of this meeting, desirable that such boundary should be done away with, and that the entire Grey Valley, extending" from, the Teremakau to ]$a?jorback, thence eastward to the dividing range, or some point to be after determined, should be formed into one separate County." They would notice that this resolution laid down a broad and established principle, viz., that the General Assembly had recognised the principle of local selfgovernment. It could not escape notice that during the last session of the Assembly that body recognised that principle as advantageous to the districts of New Zealand. The whole of the country appeared to be waking up to the fact that the Provincial form of government must be done away with, and the County system introduced.-^(Eear, hear.) During the last session petitions for the extension of this system were sent up from many districts in the country, all of which had been favorably entertained. In his opinion we had only to ask for the extension of that system here, and it would be granted. It had already been promised by the Assembly, and the blame would rest with the residents alone if they were left behind in the race to obtain it.— (Applause.) The. resolution also drew attention to the fact that the division between Westland and Nelson was a navigable river, and thereby great injury was occasioned to both districts. That had been the great difficulty since the district was formed. It might have been a difficulty in years gone bye where to fix the boundary line, and a navigable river was seized upon as the readiest means of setting aside the difficulty ; but those who thus divided the country could not have foreseen that the West Coast, especially, this district of it, would have ever assumed the important position it has done. Thai boundary line had been a constant cause of serious dispute. Almost every day grumbling was to be heard in the district about it,, for the loss to the district through it was very serious, the revenue raised in it ■ being divided, and half of it taken away from the place where it ought' legitimately to be spent. They were going on from time to time hearing those complaints, and quietly suffering the injustice, and doing nothing. The Customs revenue of the port and the gold duties were divided, the miner had to declare where he got his gold, the Bank agent had to declare that in his returns, and so had the Customhouse authorities. The effect of this division gave rise to great annoyances and inconveniences, as an instance of which he might mention the miners' rights. If a miner coming to the district took out a right in Greymouth and crossed the river he must take out another, and all this within a very short distance, thus compelling the mining community to pay double duty to the Government, because of the present obnoxious division of the County. — (Applause.) The strongest point in the argument — the greatest grievance — was the system of dividing the revenue of this port, between Nelson and Westland, and on this subject he would quote some figures which had been compiled from Government documents, and were undeni" able. He found that, according to the published returns of Nelson and Westland for 1868, the revenue of the proposed new County would be somewhat as follows :— Customs duties, L 42,173 ; scold duties, Nelson, L 7022 ; Westland, L 5036; total, L 12,058 ; postal and stamps, L 1500: telegraph fees, L 70 0; miner's rights, licenses, &c. , L 12,000; incidental receipts, L3OOO ; sale of waste landss, L 300 0; royalty on coal, L 300; total, 74,731; From this deduct for General Governmentshare, L 21,082 ; estimated permanent charges —Law and justice, LSOO ; postal^ LI7OO ; customs, L 2136 ; volunteers, L2OO ; proportion of Canterbury debts, L 400 0; do of Nelson debts, LSOO. Estimated local expenditure— County Council, inclusive of salaries of Chairman and Clerk, LIOOO ; Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Court, L 3300 ; police and gaols, L 300 0; surveys, LIOOO ; harbor, L4OO ; hospital i and charitable aid, L 2500 ; education, LIOOO ; contingencies, L2000— L14,200 ; leaving a balance available for roads and public works in the district of L 30,413. — (Applause.) Out of that amount there was expended for public works in the Nelson Grey district last year L 2750, and in the Westlaud Grey district L 2003— total, L 4754, out of an available revenue of 130,413. Now, he would ask, where had this L 26,000 gone to for the last four years 1 During some of these years it had been much larger, but where had it been expended ? It had been drained away from the district for the improvement of Nelson, and Christchurch. If they wished to see where it had gone to let them look at the streets of Nelson and Christchurch and the public buildings in Hokitika.—(Applause.) That was where the life-blood of the district had gone for the last four years.— (Loud applause.) If this district had its fair share of the expenditure it would not Wave grumbled— (hear, hear) — true, a fair amount had been voted, but. it had not been expended. Last year L6OOO was voted for the Nelson side, but only L 2700 had been expended, and this was entirely owing to the fact that the people had borne the injustice silently. He would now turn to the resources of the Grey district. The new County would embrace within itself the whole of the Grey district, and he could confidently state that there was not another district in New Zealand capable of producing so much wealth and prosperity, if its revenue was appropriated towards its development. — (Applause. ) It was the best district on the coast. Those who went away came back saying that elsewhere they could not find any place so prosperous ; and he was forced to ask the question, if that was its present condition, what would be the state of the district if the whole of its revenues^were expended in improving its condition — (Loud applause. ) Look at the resources of the district, at the number of digging centres — the Greenstone, New River, Eight-mile, Arnold, Noble's Creek, . Nelson Creek, Napoleon's, Moonlight, and

many others, and last, but not least, the coal mines, which, if properly worked, would of themselves make the Grey rich— (Applause.) He would ask why those coal mines had not been properly worked? Simply because the Grey river ran between the two mines, and it was impossible to work the one against the other. They would, only pay. tqp amalgamating the one with the other, when both would be worked, and a railway brought down this side of the river without the necessity of bringing another line down the other aide, (Hear, hear.) For- four years the Grey had gone on steadily advancing, Some i two, years.,. ago, a movement similar to this one was x originated, but failed for the reason which had been stated, If ever there was a time in the annals of the : Grey when the word now applied -to it, it was the present, (Applause.) If ever there was a time when the inhabitants were standing in their own light; if they did not move in this matter, it was the. present, .They were aware of the feelings of the present Ministry on this question, hut that Government might pass away, and another come into office opposed to the County system. Therefore all ought to use the most urgent and earnest efforts to bring this movement to a successful termination, (Applause.) Various schemes had been proposed, but he hoped there would be no division of interest, and that the united voice of the people would rise in a cry that would reach to the General Assembly, and bring a favorable answer to their prayer, that the Grey River District should be formed into a separate County. (Loud applause.) Mr M. Kennedy seconded the motion because he was convinced that the prosperity of both the mining and commercialinterests depended upon the success of the movement. The County system, as introduced in Westland, contaiued all the elements necessary for local self government; but he did not think this district could be equitably treated either from Hokitika or Westport, and therefore he supported this motion.— (Hear, hear.) A strong argument in favor of the supporters of this movement was the testimony of the late Commissioner of the South-west Gold Fields, Mr Kynnersley, who might reasonably be considered a good judge, and who said that the whole Grey Valley ought to be under one Government: If they did not move in the scheme i at the present time, arid the prayer of the petition of the people .of Westport was granted they would find that the revenues of this district would be divided and spent elsewhere. From what he knew he was satisfied the miners on the Nelson: side, who would form the bulk of the population in the new County, would support the movement^ but if the other scheme was thought of, that of including the district in Westland, they would oppose it. — (Applause.) . The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr James Johnston moved the second resolution— " That a petition for presentation to the General Assembly be drawn up and signatures obtained." They would require to use every effort to promote the petition and get it prepared for the Assembly, and he hoped that every one would put his shoulder to the wheel,, in order to obtain the object for which they were working. — (Applause.) Mr W. Dale seconded the resolution, expressing himself strongly in favor of establishing a new County, embracing the whole valley of the Grey, which he considered to be of permanent importance to .every person making the Grey his home. At considerable length he pointed out the injustice which this district had suffered from the existing division of the revenues, stating that as British subjects with a substantial grievance the residents had a right to go to the Assembly for redress. It had been proved that they had good grounds for their appeal, and he had no doubt that they would be listened to. — (Applause.) The. motion was carried unanimously. Mr Jambs Kerr said that the meeting having very wisely and unanimously carried the first resolution affirming the desirability of the Grey Valley beirg formed; into a new County, and likewis e resolving to petition or memorialise the General Assembly to grant their request, he came forward to advance the proceedings another stage by moving the third resolution. It was necessary that they should have some person with ability and influence to present the petition to the House^ and the gentleman whom he would name, from the manner in which he had exerted himself since he had come among them on all movements which had for its object the interest and welfare of the Grey district, and the position arid stand he took in the Assembly last session for the benefit of Westland generally, was a sufficient guarantee that he would use his best endeavors in that House to advance the prayer of the petition — (Applause.) He need not say anything to recommend him, but content himself by reading the resolution, feeling assured they would readily respond to it, viz.—" That Mr W. H. Harrison be requested to present the petition. "—(Loud applause.) Mr W. J. Coates seconded the motion. He thought they could not find a better man for the purpose. It was high .time the Qrey should do something for itself, as hitherto it had been totally neglected, and its revenue taken away. —(Applause.) Mr Harrison, M.H. R. (who was loudly cheered) said that under any circumj stances he would be glad to present any petition from his constituents, but in this instance he would do so with great pleasure. Ever since he had arrived in Greymouth, now nearly four years ago, he had recognised the great disadvantage which this district labored under, in cowsequence of the anomalous ' condition in which it was placed by the boundary being a navigable river, and the revenue being divided. It was with the view of rectifying this state of things that he and others refused to join their neighbors further south in the attempt to form' a new Province, preferring rather to be attached to Nelson in. order that the whole revenues of the district should be expended within it. To his mind the impropriety of the present boundary was the strongest point they had to go upon. The division of the customs duties was unfair, because it was exceptional, and because the Nelson. Government had not. contributed a reasonable proportion of the cost of main- j taining the port and customs establishments. It was only by the greatest effort that he. had been able last session of the Assembly to fix upon Nelson half the cost of thoie departments. The present arrangement was' productive of great trouble and mutual dissatisfaction, and it was. a'so, the only caj?e, to Ms knowledge,

where such a division was made. Why should they lose half the duty collected at this port without being refunded the large sums that Otago and Nelson derived. from Westland at the earlier stage of itsi existence 1 It was well known that for a considerable period the West Coast was supplied with goods, mostly duty paid, from Punedin and Nelson, andshe intended in any case to try and obtain a thorough adjustment as between all Pro^ vinces, if the existing boundary was to be maintained, It was perfectly evident "that if the Grey district — and by that he meant the geographical district of jthe Grey—. was to prosper and be developed the boundary line must be altered, The Gc-v vernment were quite aa alive to this fact as he was^ and he did not apprehend any considerable difficulty in obtaining rectifi-. cation. He must admit that he hid^elt some' doubts as to whether it woiild riot be better t& jnerely extend the boundaries of the present County of Westland, but as. he found that the inhabitants on the other side were most strongly oppos.ed to that, it was no use entertaining such a proposk tion. "He had been told' & few days ago that the Upper Grey people. objected to join Greymouth in the , movement for a, new County, but he, had since been, assured on the best authority that such was not the case, and that they would heartily co-operate with them. Hes might here stats that an his ißay from Wellington he had called at Westporfe expressly to communicate with the leaders of the Separation movement there regarding the boundary of their proposed County. He had then no knowledge of the movement going on in Greymouth, but he made it a condition with the Westport folk that if they hoped to have hlsi support in Parliament they'mnst consent to accept the Razorback as their boimdary. —(Cheers.) He believed they were willingto accede to this, and that there would be. no opposition from that quarter. Whilst agreeing with the previous speakers as to, the desirability of forming the proposed new County he could not agree, with some: of the reasons given. He went upon the! broad principle that the proposed hew arrangement would conduce to the good government and the development of the district. He could not echo the complaints as to injustice from the existing County Council of Westland. So far as. his experience went, that body had always manifested a spirit of fairness, and so had the- late and the present. County Chairman in administering the revenues of the County. The present un-. fortunate stoppage of the public works in this district was due to the fact that the expected overdraft was not forthcoming. Nor must they forget that the first public work taken in hand— the Greenstone road— was in this district He disdainw d all local jealousies in this matter, nor would any such reasons be attended to by the Assembly. They must go to that body simply prepared to show that what they wanted would be of advantage tethe best interests of the: district and colony. If they did that they need not much fear disappointment. The proposed new County would not seriously dismember the County of We3tland, as it would only take from it some nine mi'ei of coast lire* He believed that the alteration would be advantageous on all grounds, and for that reason he should have great pleastu « in taking charge of the petition; and using his best efforts to obtain what it asked. — (Lotid cheers.) The resolution was carried unanimously. ' MrD. Gikdwood moved— " That subscription lists be opened to meet the necessary expenditure to be incurred in preparing the petition and obtaining tha signatures— subscriptions to the same not. to exceed 10s." Mr W. J. Coates seconded the ; motion, which was carried unanimously. In order to carry out the . above resolutions, the following Committee was. appointed— For the town : Messrs Ken-. hedy. Masters, Wylde, A. R. Guinness, Perkins, Glenn, Sheedy, Coates, Payne, Kerr, Girdwood, Ashton, Nichol, Gilmer, and Johnston. For the country : Cobden —Messrs Willae* Ryan, and Taylor. Coal Mine— Messrs Duncan: Oswald, Jos. Taylor, and Jno. Langdbn. Twelvemile—MessrsMoUeyandWatkins. .Camp-, town — Messrs Muir and Campbell. Nelson Creek—- Messrs Duncan, D'Arcy, and Stevens. Aiiaura (old to vm)— Messrs Morris and Pinkerton. Ahaura (new do) — Messrs M ' Senna and Fraser. Moonlight — Messrs White and .Caples. Noble's —Messrs M'Laughliri, Lardi; and Mackley. No Town— Messrs Marshall and Mollby. l Arnold— Messrs Murphy, RyarJ and Cahill. Little Grey — Mr George Bannoni Eight-mile— Messrs Faulkner, . Card, and Jno. O'Connor. \ Riitherglen — Mr Hamilton. We'lihman's— Mr Barnett. Paroa— Messrs H. Barnhill and Leach. Stoney Lead — Mr White. GreenstoneMessrs Robt. Isbister, E. B. Kerby, T. Ryan, and Aiden Doyle. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.