ANNEXATION.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 699, 12 July 1870, Page 2

ANNEXATION.

(to the editor.) Sib — If one stronger argument could be adduced in favor of being annexed to Nelson stronger than another, it is the disgraceful state of the roads in the district. A road, which ought to have been made four and a-half years ago from here across the dividing range to the right branch of the New River, German Gully, Liverpool's, and various tributaries, has been done by private enterprise. The distance from where the road actually commences from the head of Maori Gully is about two and a-half miles, and considering the inclemency of the weather for the past two months, it has greatly re- > tarded the progress of the formation of the road. Men are busily employed in corduroying it, and when completely finished will be a great boon to the public. Ev^ry possible credit is due to Mr Michael Phillips for his spirit in undertaking a work of this nature, which involves a considerable amount of outlay and risk. As I before remarked, had iihis been done years ago, in the palmy days, we would not have the cry out of scarcity of gold. The contract for the Arnold road repairs is taken not before it was time.

The miners to a man in this district are in favor of the Annexation movement, as they say any change is better than the Government we are under, as it seemed to them just a scramble for money amongst the members of the Council, and moreover Nelson did make tracks of some kind in the early days, so that provisions, could be had! It is noticeable that at the very outset of the Coast, Mr Saunders,- late Superintendent, paid a visit to the gold fiekU, and inquired into all our wants and requirements, but on this side, neither Mr Moorhouae, Sale, or Bonar deigned even to visit us, although all of them were invited. Mr Hoos certainly has, and we are in a great measure indebted to him for the .roads we have, but mainly through our. member (Mr Lahman's) exertions. But, to sum up, the people are heartily sick, disgnsted, and tired of the County Council and its doings, but the general wish is for one Government for all New Zealand.

A case of peculiar hardship came under my notice. A man named Alabaster, who keeps the punt at the Coal Pits, is entitled to a free publican's license, by complying with the conditions imposed -.on him. Whether the County Chairman will grant him one or not remains to be seen, and for his (the County Chairman's) information and guidance I have to inform him that at Langdon's Ferryj where tho traffic is ten times, greater, a free license has been granted for the last four years by * the Nelson Government, meanwhile the poor man is liable to be pounced upon by, the police at any moment, until the decision of Mr Hoos arrives. The niajiter becomes a peculiarly hard one, as

the average of passengers is seldom more than four or five daily, and Alabaster has just purchased the interest of Montgomery in the punt. Arnold, July 11, 1870. [Our correspondent appears to have forgotton that all the gentleman mentioned did visit the district, and vied with each other in promises, but nothing else. — Ed.] .