THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 597, 13 November 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1869.

We are agreeably disappointed to find, from a report of a recent meeting of the Chris fcch urch Chamber of Commerce, that Westland has received some sympathy and support in its opposition to the new postal contract for a weekly service between Christchurch and Westland. From the tone adopted by at least one section of the Christchnrch press on this subject, we were led to suppose that no iuterest whatever was taken in the subject by the mercantile community of that city — at least that they were indifferent, and had given their support to the Superintendent when he declared that they would only for the future pay for one-half of a weekly service. But we find we were much mistaken, for it now appears that the members of tho Christchurch Chamber of Commerce are as much opposed as the merchants on this side are to the new service, on tho ground of its insulficiency to meet the requirements of the two districts. At the meeting to which we have referred, the expression of opinion suuuiud.

to be unanimous against the change which has been brought about by the combined action of the Superintendent of Canterbury, the Chairman of the County Council, and the Inspector of Post Offices, and the following resolution was adopted : — "That this Chamber considers the postal arrangements which have been made for the service between Christchurch and Hokitika for the year 1870 insufficient, aud regrets that a bi-weekly service, as formerly existing, was not continued, That the Chairman of this Chamber forward a copy of this resolution to the Superintendent of Canterbury, the Postmaster-General of New Zealand, and the Chairman of the Westland County Council, and request them to reconsider their late action in the matter of postal contracts between Christchurch and Hokitika, aud to take such stops as shall promote a return to the present bi-weekly service." This ought to have some weight with the Postmaster-General coining as it does with the memorials of the people of Westland, which are now being signed both in Hokitika and Greymonth, and will be forwarded to head-quarters as early as possible. There is but one feeling in Westland on this subject — that, in the words of the memorial the people are now asked to sign, this retrogade step is "highly prejudicial to the interests of Westland, and, inasmuch as the Colony is concerned in the prosperity of every part thereof, injurious to New Zealand interests generally. That it is of vital importance to Westland that postal facilities should be maintained, and that in view of the immediate cessation of the present postal contract for the intercolonial mail service, a bi-woekly overland service between Westland and Christchurch is more urgently needed than ever," and it is re quested that the new mail contract which has been entered into so hurriedly, and so much against the wishes, and in opposition to the best interests of the people on both sides of the ranges, should be rescinded, or modified, so as to bring it back to the old bi-weekly service. It is earnestly to be hoped that when these memorials are presented, due consideration will be given to them, especially when the fact is borne in mind that all mail subsidies for intercolonial and interprovincial steamers cease at the expiration of the present contracts, and the vessels which now call so regularly at Westland ports, will then visit us only when it suits iheir convenience, so that the bi-weekly overland mail service will then be more urgently necessary than ever it was before. It was urged by the Superintendent of Canterbury that if the bi-weekly service was to be continued, Westland should pay two-thirds of the cost. Although we cannot see the fairness of the proposition, because we believe the present service is aa beneficial to the residents in Canterbury as to those in Westland, still we would rather see the two-thirds paid by Westland than the institution of a weekly service, although we still believe that the question would never have been pressed by the Superintendent of Canterbury, if Mr Hoos had taken up the tirm position he ought to have done when it was first pressed upon his attention. One of the speakers at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce very properly remarked that to " accept a weekly service would give rise to an inference that depression existed in the condition of Canterbury. If the weekly service were carried out, the merchants in Christchurch would lose very great facilities for communicating with Melbourne. He was informed that Cobb and Co's tender for the services between Christchurch and Hokitika, and Hokitika and the Grey, amounted to L 3200 a year, namely, L6OO for the servico between Hokitika and the Grey, and L2GOO for the twice-a-week service between Christchurch and Hokitika. Mr Dalwood's tender for a twice-a-week service was L 2700 (being LIOO higher than Cobb and Co.'s), and LI7OO a-year for the weekly service." The rescinding of the contract which was let to Mr Dalwood should be no very difficult matter, seeing that, unlike Cobb and Co. , he can have gone to no great expense as yet, and he might be bought off for a few hundreds, and there is no doubt that the present contractors will be ready to meet the Government in a reasonable way. Whatever is to be done in the matter ought to bo done speedily, and we would impress upon the Greymouth Committee the necessity of getting the memorial signed to-day, and transmitted to head-quarters by the first mail.