THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 644, 5 March 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1870.

These wa3 a time when the Provincial Government of Nelson bore deservedly tho reputation of managing its gold fields, and encouraging their development, better than any other local Government in New Zealand, "Well do we remember the period when the example set by the Nelson authorities was constantly hurled intlm face of the then rulers of Westland in Christchurch, in order to shame them into something like justice to their gold fields. The Nelson Government was highly popular. Public journals and public men praised it, and the miners testified their sentiments by the somewhat irregular process of robbing Canterbury of its proper revenue by declaring their gold to be the produce of the Province of Nelson, when it was nothing of the kind. This was at a time when a practical and sagacious Superintendent was in power, Mr Sa'iuders at once saw and recognised the real value of jt3 gold field to the Province of Nelson. He saw the possibility, by tLeir means, of raising the Province from the iufurior position iuto which it had lapsed, and placing it; in a front rank amongst the divisions of the Colony. Aud he did not fail to appreciate the necessity and desirability of encouraging the development of the gold fields by every possible means. He was well supported in his policy by the officer whom he appointed to carry it out, Mr Kyunerslcy,

and it is not too much to say that, taking everything into consideration, the general •. .administration of the Nelson Gold Fields at the time we refer to was exceptionally good. The diggers were assisted heartily in their work of opening up the country ; roads and tracks were constructed with acelerity not oftpi to be found in thi3 Colony, and both,Govevnment and people p"ufleti pleasantly together. But "what a contrast does the state of things we have just painted afford to the existing condition of affairs ! If we were to reverse all we have said, and negative every word of commendation, we should fall short ■of affording a fair idea of the thorough dis-. repu+e into which the Nelson Government has fallen on its gold fields. From whatever cause, it is certain that since tl c system of administrating the affairs of the South West Gold Fields by a Commissioner on the spot has been supplanted by a more constitutional but inefficient arrangement the affairs of the gold fields have fallen into a lamentable condition. It is not in any one locility merely that public dissatisfaction exists. From Westport down the coast, and up to the most outlyingdiggings in the Grey district, the same song of complaint is to be heard. The universal opinion of the miners is that the Government is neglecting them, and to this neglect they ascribe the decaying state of many of the mining districts. Possibly the complaints of the miners may in a certain extent be exaggerated, and possibly also the depression in many places is due to other causes than Government neglect. But that there is a large substratum of truth in the numerous charges brought against the Nelson authorities there can be no doubt. The existing condition of things in the Grey district is sufficient to establish an accusation of maladministration against the Government. For the last two years, this portion of the SouthWest Gold Fields has been growing in importance, and establishing itself as the most inviting gold field on the West Coast. And for the last two years the Government has systematically neglected it, and done everything calculated to retard its prosperity. Although the Grey Valley may be considered to be the richest of all the auriferous districts of Nelson, it is treated as if it were the poorest, and was hardly worth expending money.upon. Since Mr Kynnersley left the district, ' hardly a single public work of any extent ; has been carried out. From that period 1 to the present, the complainings of the miners have been continuous. Day after day, and week after week, have the wants r of the several portions of the district been I made known in every manner calculated I; to bring them under the notice of the I Government. And yet nothing is done, r and the inhabitants are beginning to be . tired of their useless appeals for assistance. The condition of many of the miuing localities up the river is a lasting disgrace to the Government. Is it not a glaring regroach that a district which cons tributes so largely to the revenues of the J Province should be so shamefully ne--3 glected ? and has not the time come when the inhabitants must make their necessi- • ties felt I It appears that the mere pub- • licity, or the simple knowledge of the grievances of the Grey District, are not . sufficient to arouse the Nelson Govern--1 ment from its apathy. The people must " force a recognition of their complaints in r s jmt o her manner, and we would suggest • that the inhabitants should strengthen the hands of their members in the Provincial Council^ by holding public meetings and passing resolutions, setting forth the opinions of the residents regarding the necessities of the district, and the past conduct of the Government. It is apparently useless to attempt to rouse the . faculties of the authorities at Nelson by gentle persuasion. Some more vigorous B method most be adopted, and we would f strongly advise the inhabitants of the Nelson-Grey District to exert themselves in this matter. They have many justifiable grounds of complaint ; their case is one of gross injustice ; and we cannot doubt that if they employ the constitutional means of doing so, they can compel the Nelson Government, by the force of . public opinion, to mend its ways, 1 and do f justice. The Provincial Council will soon assemble ; and if anything is to be done, . it should be done at once.