THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 662, 16 April 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1870.

In continuation of the subject upon which we so lately wrote — the misgovernment of* Hie Grey* Valley by the Nelson Government — we purpose now to advance a few facts and figures in order to bear out the statements we then made. In doing so we may as well state at the outset that these figures are official, having been compiled by Mr Harris, the Treasury Representative on the South West Gold Fields, in order to be laid before the Provincial Council when it meets, and supplied to our Westport contemporary. During the last session of the Provincial Council an agitation was on foot for separation, and the Nelson Government very cleverly drew a herring across the scent by voting over £9000 for roads in the Grey Valley. That calmed the excitement for the time being, created jealousy between the Westport and Grey Valley residents, and caused a split in the separation camp. We pointed out at the time what the vote really meant — that it was a mere blind and never intended to be spent — and we now find, at the close of the financial year, that our predictions were correct. Out of the ,£9OOO voted, there has been expended upon roads in the Grey Valley only £2368, and even that amount has been frittered away without accomplishing any lasting good to the district. It is also worthy of notice that during the time the Grey district has been treated in this manner it hrs been an exception to the other districts on the South West Gold Fields, for while their revenue decreased, its has steadily increased, until it is now the most productive, so far as gold fields' revenue is concerned. We refer to the revenue which can strictly be called gold fields revenue — that derivable from miners' rights, publicans' and business licenses, Wardens' Court fees, registration, survey and lease fees, &c. , and do not include the gold export duty. The total then of this sort of revenue collected during the year on the South- West Gold Fields was £18,609 Bs lid, being £1500 less than that of .1860, when it was £20,179 2s Bd. Of this the Grey district produced £7728 5s 9d ; Charleston, £6393 8s sd ; and Westport, £4487 Us 9d. The increase as regards this district, and the decrease as regards the other two, will be seen when we mention that the returns for the previous year were — Grey, £5857 2s 8d ; Charleston, £8297 5s 4d ; and Westport £6024 Is sd. The proportion of the gold export duty received from Greymouth would amount to £8000, and the consolidated revenue (Customs, &c), £17,000- or £18,000 ; so that out of a revenue of some £33,000, the present very liberal Nelson Government haa expended on public works in the district little over £2000. Of course, the district has to be charged with its share of the cost of government, and also its proportion to the General Government ; but still the figures prove most unmistakeably that the Grey district has been sadly neglected ; that its revenues have been drained from it and spent elsewhere ; that, in fact, its progress has been deliberately retarded. Other districts have suffered in- the- same proportion, as will be seen by the following figures '.—There was voted last year for public works on the South-west Gold Fields a total of £35,000, or deducting the amount set down as expenditure on the Brunner coal-mine (which had no right to be so placed), £30,370. The actual expenditure, including £6082 on the Brunner mine, was £17,634. In reality, the expenditure on public works over, the entire Gold Felds was only £11,552. For departmental expenditure £20,350 was voted last year. There was spent £18,768, making a total expenditure of £36,402. The manner in which tho expenditure actually took place was as follows :— Buller Valley roads, £2368 ; Coast roads, £1406 (£549 of which was the Westporb district ; Branch roads, £1449 (£IO6O of which was in this district) ; Streets, £423 ; Harbors and Signals, L 22 7; Buildings, £1393 (£942 of which was on the District Gaol at Westport and other buildings) ; Charleston harbor, £496 ; Fire-engines, £200 ; Dray Road between Westport and Addison's, L 3 3; Protection Works, Buller river, £213; Track to Rochford Terrace, Brighton, £170 ; and, as before stated, £6082 on the Brunner coal-mine. This state of things cannot be borne by the people in this district any longer ; it

has been endured too patiently and too long. It is to be hoped that all the grand promises which were so lately made by members of the Nelson Executive will be given effect to ; but we admit that we have little hope that they will be, so long as the present Government is in office. They have too often promised and never fulfilled to be believed in now. We can only hope (as we have done for years) for better things from the approaching session of the Nelson Provincial Council, from the exertions of our representatives, and the lively interest taken in this district by Mr Kynnersley. At present there are unmistakeable signs of a revival of the old separation movement in this and other northern districts. So far as this district is concerned we hope it will not take place, as the residents in the Grey Valley may as well be governed from Nelson as Westport. Perhaps there are reasons why the last stage of such a movement would be worse than the first, and it is very questionable if the condition of the residents, or the prospects of the district, would be in the slightest degree improved by it. A thorough remedy for present evils is wanted, and now is the time to consider what steps should be taken to secure it jnjview of the approaching meetings of the Westland County Council, the Nelson Provincial Council, and the General Assembly. Our belief is, and has always been, that the only true remedy is the removal of the present boundary line between Nelson and Westland, and placing the Grey Valley under one Government— what that form of government would be is an after consideration. It is admitted by all, both on the Nelson and Westland side of the river, that the present boundaryline is bad, so that combined efforts ought to be made for its removal. What we suggest is that a monster petitiou should be got up, and presented at the next meeting of the Assembly, praying that a Commission be appointed to enquire into the question of the advisability of removing the present boundaryline, and whether the County of Westland ought to be extended north, the Province of Nelson south, a new County established for the Grey Valley, with Greymouth as its centre, or the whole of the West Coast Gold Fields created a separate Province. The question would then be. dealt with impartially, free from local jealousies, and the decision which would be arrived at would no doubt be accepted with authority, not only by the House of Representatives, but also by all the residents on the West Coast. On this platform all can join ; and we would commend the initiation of this movement to the Committee which was recently appointed at a public meeting in Greymouth, at which the behaviour of tho Westland County Council toward this district was so freely condemned.