THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 515, 6 May 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1869.

It was not to be expected that the Nelson Provincial Government would view with indifference the efforts being made by the inhabitants of the Southwest Gold Fields to establish a separate form of government. It is not easy to voluntarily resign a position of eminence either for men or governments, and Nelson in this case must be doubly reluctant to part with the prestige which her rich gold fields have given her. Prior to the opening up of ,the Southwest Gold Fields Nelson had subsided into the position of a fifth or sixth-rate Province. Undoubtedly its public men carried great influence into die counsels of the Colonial Parliament, for they were men who had taken a prominent position in public affairs almost since the foundation of the colony. But, as a province, Nelson was of small account. Its trade and revenues were small. It did not achieve notoriety even in the pleasant work of borrowing money. It had sold for a song the greater portion of its available laud, and was in that happy "dolce far nieute" state generally which the lazzaroni of Naples so much enjoy. In fact, Nelson — Government, people, and all — had " retired from business," and was content so long as no gale blew in Blind Bay, and its orchards and hop-gardens flourished. But the discovery of gold on the West Coast altered this state of things. The soft, innocent rusticity of the Provincial Government was, after a good deal of shaking, and possibly after, some regret, exchanged for the enforced activity that was necessary to cope with the new era of events. And it is but fair here to say that for a considerable time the affairs of the Nelson Gold Fields were vigorously aud intelligently administered. Probably much, of this was due to the fortunate choice the Government made of its representative on the Coast, aud the still more fortunate circumstance that they left him to do pretty much as he pleased. During the p-3011---"ar state of society which attends the

first advent of a large gold-mining population, and the first chaotic state of affairs generally on a^ gold field, perhaps a sort of irresponsible arbitrary govern-: ment is the best adapted to the circum r stances, aud Mr. Kynnersley showed that he was well fitted to hold the reins under- such circumstances. But as the population became more settled, there naturally arose that feeling which in these modern days is implanted deeply in the minds of every Briton— a desire to have some voicp iv their qwu government. A. scanty representation, was given to them iv the Nelson Provincial Council ; but this modicum of coustitutiona.l privileges naturally only begot the desire for a fuller share, The time came wh.eu it was no longer advisable to rule a populatiop, which had begun to think for itself, by au irresponsible Commissioner. Mr. Kynnersley retired, and with his retirement may be dated the commencemenfof the relapse of the Nelson Government into its old sleepy habits. We cannot speak authoritively as to whether the complaints of the inhabitants of the Coast Go}d Fields are well founded; but we can "speak with regard to the laches of the Government towards the Grey River district. For the last two years that portion of this valley which is subject to the Nelson Government has been neglected to a degree that has most seriously injured its prosperity and prevented its due development. Nothing like a fair proportion of its revenues has been expended within the district on roads, and the diggings are still dependent upon the dangerous river as their only means of obtaining their supplies. And then what a muddle has been made of the coal mine! Surely so much shortsightedness and imbecility was never exhibited by any Government having the control of such a raignificent source of wealth. Had one-half the pains and trouble been taken to develop the Brunner mine as has been taken to accomplish that moonshiny affair the Nelson and Cobdeu Railway, the port of Greym< uJi might by this time have been the Newcastle of New Zealand. But whilst thousands of pounds have been expended upon an impracticable scheme, the splendid coal mine has been virtually closed, Such a state of affairs naturally precipitated the desire, for local government on the part of the inhabitants. They feel that the time has come when they ought to administer their own affairs, and apply their revenues to their legitimate ends. And why should they be denied this right 1 The gold fields are no longer peopled merely by a nomadic race of goldseekers. Capital to an enormous extent has been embarked, flourishing towns have sprung up, the population is becoming more and more fixed, they have plenty of revenue, and plenty of intelligence to know how to administer it to the best advantage. Surely there could be no better opportunity of carrying out those principles which the Superintendent of Nelson, Mr. Curtis, himself advocated in the Assembly last session. After expressing himself as he did, Mr. Curtis should be only too glad of the opportunity of encouraging the gold fields in their efforts to obtain self-government. During one of the debates on the policy of the Government Mr. Curtis used the following words, which we copy from « Hausard"— "The House is mainly divided into two " classes : the one is in favor of enlarging "the powers of the provinces, so as to " make them something like independent " States, connected only by a federal bond ; " while the other party wishes to reduce " the power of Provincial Governments, "and, as those institutions are ex"tinguished, to unite the colony under "one head, with local self-government in " the various districts, after the example of "the home country, and of most of the " other colonies of the Empire. That is "the question which we have to consider, u and as I find that the Government is dis"posed to pursue the latter course, I will "give them my vote on this occasion." And yet we hear that in spite of such a plain admission of the principles of local self-government as opposed to provincial institutions on the part of the Superintendent of the Province, the Nelson Government are striving to cajole the separationists by offering them a larger representation in the Provincial Council. But we much mistake the spirit of the inhabitants of the South-west Gold Fields if they will for such a mess of potage barter their birth-right.