THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 618, 4 January 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1869.

; — ■ I Since the last publication of this journal another year has been numbered among tliose that have passed over our heads in such rapid succession. We have rung the Old Year out with all due solemnity, and welcomed the New Year in with our ac. ;ustomed mirth and jollity ; we have joined in the festivities of the season ; we have congratulated our friends ; partaken liberally of the good things of this life, as in duty bound at tlm season of tho year ; and once more settled down earnestly to fulfil the duties of the j'ear upon which we so recently entered, In doing so it may prove instructive and encouraging to take a glance at the events of tho past. At this same period of la3t year we had to regret a great falling off in the Customs revenue of the County, owing to a large decrease of population consequent upon the rushes to Auckland and Queensland. That decrease was not so perceptible here as in the neighboring town, and it is with regret that we have to mention the fact that a most serious deficiency in the revenue still continues, and increases there ; while this port has advanced steadily in trade and commerce and prosperity, its Customs revenue having increased hy many thousands during the past year. At the beginning of last year we predicted that our future would be a proud and happy one, and in order to see how fully our words have com© true, we have only to ask our readers to look around them-^-to remember the progress which has been made in the development uf the resources of the district, the rich

golden discoveries which have been made iit the Greenstone, Eight-mile, Maori Creek, No-Name, and South Beach, on the Westland side, and what may be classed as the Napoleon district on the Nelson side, in addition to the opening up and .thorough testing of the Moonlight. qnartz reefs. These recent events have amply proved that we have at our backs an, immense district of the resources of which very little is yet known, but which . practical men who have prospected it for years tell us will yet prove to be an enormous gold field, both alluvial and quartz. What is wanted to bring this oertain result about is the expenditure of the available resources of the County on roads, tramways, tracks, and bridges, in order to allow the miners thoroughly to prospect. What has long been our motto we must again reciterate, and press it upon the attention of the members of the County Council, who are now about to re-assemble for business — "Open up the country" —devote your energies principally to this good work, and the most satisfactory results will follow ; indulge in fewer visionary schemes, come down to practical earnest work ; have fewer' personal quarrels, less grasping at the public purse, and a little more harmonious action for the general good ; and there need be little fear either for the future prosperity of any portion of Westland, or for the successful elaboration of the scheme of local self-government, under which we have now lived for two years. With all its faults, and they are not few (owing principally to deficient legislation, bad administrators, and local jealousies), the County. system of Government is capable of great good to any community, when administered by able men, but it still requires much amendment, so that the powers of the chief officer may be defined, and the councillors induced to confine themselves more to practical work than to playing at parliament, and unnecessarily prolonging the sessions of the Council. As we have said, there are around us numerous indications that the Grey District has entered upon a period of prosperity, which will prove to be permanent if the resources of the district are properly developed. Amidst all this rejoicing it is to be regretted that we cannot record any advance in the development of our proved and rich coal fields, but there Is good reason to believe that ere long the. sound of the steam-horse at work will be heard on both sides of the river — the wretched system of Government mismanagement which lias hitherto characterised the working of the Brunner mine will give way before the energy of some wealthy private company, capable of doing justice to the mine, to I the public, to the port, and to themselves; and that the company now being formed in Christchurch and Greyuiouth to work* the Grey mine and carry a railway to the Arnold will soon be in full working order. Upon our coal trade, the permanent prosperity of the port ' depends more than upon its gold, and it i 3 earnestly trusted that the year upon which we have now entered will not expire ere we see the two schemes to which wo have referred successfuily initiated, as well as that grand idea, which we fear is yet in the womb of the future — the railway from Nelson to Cobden.