THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY,. JULY 27, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 550, 27 July 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY,. JULY 27, 1869.

It must be some satisfaction to the residents in this town whose properties are situated on the Native Reserve, to note the stand which has been taken by the County Chairman and the members of the Council on the question of compelling the Native Trust to contribute in an equal ratio with other owners of property for the construction and maintenance of those public works which are undertaken for its improvement. The Chairman had some cause to express surprise at the refusal of Mr Mackay, the Native Commissioner, to admit the justice of the claim that the property of Maoris should be taxed the same as that belonging to white men ; but the residents here feel more surprise that he and his predecessors in office should not have arrived at this conclusion sooner, and have brought the matter under the notice of the Colonial Parliament years ago. The position occupied by the residents in the upper township has been exceptional in the matter of exorbitant taxation since the town was first settled. The ground-rent charged for the least s of the Maori land have from the first been exorbitant, but even that would have been submitted to with good grace if a fair proportion of it had been spent in protecting, improving, and making the property more vajuable. But the opposite has been the oase, for while the leaseholders have been paying their enormous ronts they have also been taxing thomselves, and spending every penny of available revenue to save the property of the Mapris from being washed out to sea, while the Native Commissioner has contributed nothing more than one paltry sum during the last three years. It is, therefore, with peculiar satisfaction that the citizens here should hail the slightest prospect of being partially relieved from the unenviable position which they have bo long occupied with regard to those Maori lands. The

motion which was carried in the County Council, and which has since been telegraphed to both Houses of Parliament, embodies a unanimous expression of opinion that Native land should contribute its just proportion towards the cost of constructing and maintaining roads, wharves, or protective works through or adjoining these properties, at the rate of 20 per cent, on the gross rental for the first year, and 8 per cent, for the future. The recommendation is a moderate one, and, if the case is fairly represented and investigated by any committee of the Assembly, it is sure to meet with general assent, and some alteration made in the law by which this most desirable change can be brought about. Our representative fully understands the question, and there is no doubt that if it is possible to bring about any change it will be done. The present visit of the Native Commissioner to Greymouth has been taken advantage of by the Borough Council to press upon his attention the immediate necessity which exists for granting a liberal subsidy towards the completion of the protective works. It will be remembered that some months ago, after considerable pressure was brought to bear, Mr Mackay recommended the General Government to grant to the Borough Council out of the Native rents ,£SOO to assist in finishing the large works which have been undertaken and, so far, successfully carried on by the local bodies for the protection of the town. He wrote two urgent letters to the Government on this subject, but no satisfactory answer was received, and one thing is certain, the Borough Council has not received the money. Perhaps Mr Mackay has done all that he considers it his duty to do under the circumstances ; but the personal inspection he has had of the works ought to have convinced him of their dangerous position, and the urgent necessity which exists for their being finished as sorrn as possible, before the spring floods come and wash away the work already done at the cost of so many thousands of pounds. One would have thought so, but when it was urged upon him by the deputation from the Borough Council to make another effort to obtain the payment of the contribution he threw objections in the way, and it was only after the most urgent solicitations that he consented to go so far out of the ordinary routine of official business as to telegraph to the Government on the subject, and endeavor to obtain the immediate payment of the long-] ooked-f or and much-wanted £500. If he had been fully alive to the interests of his constituents he would have recommended the payment of at least double that amount, but still, situated as we are, we have reason to' be thankful for small mercies, and live in hope that the expression of opinion from the County Council will have some effect in bringing about a new order of things, by compelling the Native Trust to bear a fair share of the general taxation.