THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 637, 17 February 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1870.

Anothek session of the County Council of Westland has been concluded. A great deal of business, of one kind or another has been disposed of, bui the sitting has not been remarkable in its results. ltha s certainly been distinguished by a good deal of unnecessary debate with regard to the regulation of the merely personal affairs of the Council, But we cannot find in the long list of motions move than one or two matters of a positive character —matters likely to affect the fortunes of the County for the future. Without doubt the question of constructing public works on the system of deferred payments was a most important one. It involved a question affecting the welfare not only of Westland but of other parts of New Zealand. The Council has by its majority accepted a principle which wo venture to say cannot be carried out without the most serious effects to the country. And it has been adopted in connection with a very bad caee. False and delusive as we believe the plan of deferred payments to be, it would have been a redeeming feature in the matter if it had been applied only to a case or cases of extreme urgency. But carried as it was, and in relation to a public work of no immediate necessity, we cannot but regard the action of the Council as a gravo mistake, Nay, it is more than a mistake as the matter stands, and we to the fullest extent endorse the sentiments expressed by Mr Robinson — " tha* those members of outlying districts who voted for the Aralnu'a road deliberately sacrificed the interests of their constituents." There can be no doubt of the fact that apart from all question as to. the legality or policy of adopting the system of deferred payments, the Arahura road was not a work of necessity. There are many outlying districts in various parts of the County absolutely starving for the want of roada or tracks, and yet they are left in their difficulties and a special strain is made by a majority of the Council in favor of a work not needed at all ! We must confess that we cannot understand by what process of reasoning our local members, Messrs Lahmari and Carreras, voted for that work. Surely the Grey district of all others demanded exceptional treatment, if exceptional action were possible, and yet we find Mr Lahman unconditionally withdrawing his own proposal for making a road on deferred payments, in his own district, and atrongly supporting the aame principle in another case. Mr Carreras has, no doubt, worked hard generally in the interests of his special constituents, the miners ; but he has made a very serious mistake, and one that the people of his own district will not allow themselves to forget. He has voted away three thousand pounds for a work absolutely unnecessary, and thus crippled the ability of the County to do thosfe works which are so much needed. Surely if ever an exceptional case would justify the straining of a principle, it existed in the case of the proposed road from Greymouth to the Coal-pits. Here we have 1 absolutely no means of securing communication with the interior. We have 110 beach along which we cau travel »vith comfort, and the ohly highway at all is the dangerous river. The road upcountry from Greymouth is without all question the most important and most needed public work in Westland ; and it is somewhat incomprehensible that two of the members of the district should with one hand drop the work needed by their constituents, and with the other assist in carrying out one in another district, which, whatever may be its other recommendations, did not possess the condition, of necessity, Mr Harrison's objections to the roads in each of the cases referred to can be understood. He fought against the principle of deferred payments as being a system that vas opposed to the real my terests of fche County, and we are much inclined to agree with him. Qri the mere ground that it was desirable that the County should free itself from debt, the plan of deferred payments should have been rejected. However, th& Council has adopted the principle, and therefore it is not much use attempting now to argue against it. We can only regret that it has been applied so badly and nnnecesarily. The Council has decided that for the present it is not advisable to alter the general plan under which the Waste Ipnds are disposed of. Possibly the Council may be right ; but we still think that if ever anything like an extensive permanent population can be fixed in Weatland, the conditions of acquiring land must be made much easier than they are now.. We are afraid that full attention has not been given to this matter. Mr Harrison, wha first moved in it, does not appear to have given fliat thought and energy to his subject which he ought to have done. His resolutions were vague* and the report of hia committee is absolutely bald. It mentions simply that the committee had come to mcli ami avth a conclusion, without affording the slightest grounds of explanation as to the reasons for that conclusion. Surely tlie question of settling n population in the country was worthy of juore c«iisii!ci«t;«»««d of muuv elaborate treat- 1

ment than are rep: esented by the report of the committee. Our. own impression is, that tlie subject has been slurred over and trifled with, and has not engaged the thought and careful discussion which it deserved. The appropriations of the revenue have been mado tolerably fairiy in this single instance, There being no considerable sum available for distribution in the shapo of public works and subsidies to local bodies, the Counoil has for once been fair in pretty nearly starving every district alike, But if the anticipations of the Treasury are realised, and the County is able to get rid of most of its liabilities durfng the next half year, the Grey district must receive muoh greater consideration than it has hitherto done, The principle enunciated a.t the late public meeting must be carried out as far as pos*-sible-=viz., the expenditure of the revenue in proportion to the amount contributed by each district. Under the most unfavorable conditions the Grey District has been shown to be entitled to an expenditure on public works of some eight or nine thousand a.-year, and it must have that to which it is entitled. Next session we hope to ace our members insisting on the carrying out of this principle, which, if only carried out fairly, will satisfy everybody. The whole principle embodied in the County of Westland Act is that of giving thoae "who contribute the rgvenue the right to spend it or the right to its advantages, Had that principle been followed in Westland, we should not have had any occasion for indignation meetings or discontent of any kind. Just fancy what could he done for the Grey district with eight thousand a-year? It would amply suffice for all the wants of the district, and would enable the population to do some real work in settling the country. We must be content with nothing less than our fa.ir share of the revenue, and although we may patiently submit to the present unfortunate circumstances of the County, patience must be put aside next session and our rights insisted upon. In its more local application the session has not been without effect. The recognition of the necessities of the mining localities on this side the Teremakau has been a favorable sign of a greater wish to do justice to the Grey District. It is a new feature in the proceedings of the Council, and it is oue worth remarking. The reduction in the price of town lands will, no doubt, have the effect of inducing many persons to become permanent residents, who would otherwise have no tie to the place, The disposal of the unoccupied estate of the Government will produce an additional revenue to the Corporation. The provisions mado for Educational purposes, although small, will enable a commencement to be nude in the establishing of good schools. We trust that Greymouth will be one of the first to derive benefit. There is no greater necessity for Greymouth than a good school for children. Speaking generally of the session, we may say that although little has been done of special importance, it will compare favorably with previous sittings. There has been a large amount of detail work done, and there has been a greater spirit of earnestness manifested by the Council than could be remarked on previous sittings. Probably this is to a certain extent due to the fact that public opinion has made itself more strongly felt.