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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 749, 5 November 1870, Page 2

In a few days the Grey district of the Nehon South- West Gold Fields will be honored by what may practically be said to be the first visit it has ever received from the head of the Nelson Government since Mr Saunders occupied tha post of Superintendent. The importance of Mr Curtis' visit cannot be too highly rated, if — as we believe it is his intention to make it — it assumes the character of a careful and observant official tour. It has been a very good ground of complaint with the residents of the Grey Valley that their wants, and the resources of the district, have been imperfectly understood by the Nelson authorities. It is true that dinting the term of Mr Kynnersley's office of Commissioner most copious reports upon the district were periodically supplied to the Provincial Government, but perhaps their importance wag lost sight of in the fact that the expenditure of the available revenne upon the Gold Fields was not at that time regulated in detail by the Provincial Council or by the Executive itself, but was conducted at the discretion of the Commissioner. Since that time, and under the new regime, the importance of this district has been only faintly recognised. Possibly this has been dne — first to the circumstance that the former representatives of the Grey were not local men, nor had local experience,' and second to the inexperience of those who have succeeded them. Not that we would for a moment desire to cast any blame on the local representatives, who have no doubt done their best to advocate the interests of their constituents, but their iufluence does not appear to have been so effective as it would probably have been, had a more comprehensive knowledge of the real value of the district been possessed by the Nelson Government. It is .to be hoped that the visit of the Superintendent will lead to that thorough appreciation of what is required than appears to have existed, and that the local members in the Council will be able to feel that their efforts in behalf of their constituents will be better recognised by the Government. Mr Curtis is an observant far-seeing man. He ia likely to rely a great deal upon his own views of things, and we venture to hope that a gentleman of his character can; ' % t mske a tour through this portion of his Province without being largely impressed with the absolute necessity of

developing its extensive and valuable resources. He must inevitably return with the conviction that the laizzes faire policy which has been pursued towards the district has been] a- sad blunder, and that the only sensible and profitable course to adopt is to afford every possible inpetus to the prosperity of what wo may safely declare to be the most valuable portion of the province of Nelson. It cannot be doubted by any who know the resources of the Grey Valley that under judicious and liberal administration its capacity for feeding the revenues of the province wouldbelargelyincreased, and that a generous expenditure would repay j itself tenfold. Even in spite of the neglect of public works, the natural resources of the district have enabled it to maintain the position of being the most prosperous of the gold fields of the West Coa3t; what might that prosperity become if its many crying necessities were only provided 1 Its population and revenue might be doubled, and its large extent of agricultural land be permanently settled. The district has a great claim upon the Nelson Government. A large proportion of its revenue was diverted at tho time when the Buller and Charleston districts needed a large expenditure, and it suffered the most -when the present Sviperintendent, in order to bring the Province, as a whole, out of the difficiilties of debt, public works were stopped on the whole of tho Gold Fields. Now is the time for repayment, and it ought not to be for want of either urgency on the part of the inhabitants or knowledge of the justice of the appeal, that the Grey Valley dees not obtain its deserts. Another important result may be expected to occur from the visit of Mr Cnrtis. Although theoretically aware of the fact, his personal observations will alone be able to convince him ot the real necessity of that unity of the whole of the Grey Valley so earnestly sought by the inhabitants of both sides of the river. He will ]be continually impressed with the evils of double government and the division of interests which naturally should be undivided, . And he will be able to understand that' th© solicitude of the people on the question does not arise from merely political or unworthy motives, but from a conviction which forces itself upon them every day and in every', transaction of their lives. He will recognise the absurdity of diverting the natural channels of trade and communication, simply because of considerations of a territorial division, arising only iro\a a, duality 0? Governments. The uneconomical character of much of the expenditure which his Government has incurred, and is now being pressed to incnr, on what may technically be called the Nelson side of the boundary, simply because it is the Nelson side, must become apparent to him ; and surely ho will be convinced of the desirability of terminating such a wretched state of thing?. There is just now a case in pomt — the road to Murray Creek. Can anyone believe for a moment that had the Annexation movement been successful, there would have been any doubt as to the course of that road ? The trade of the Inangahna has always been with Greymouth, a road to within a short distance of Murray Creekfromthe Grey already exists, and -yvb uecausevvo^t^^r-e-t.Ma-aTeyirioiitn are in different provinces it is contemplated to neglect the small cmtimvaticn of road referred to. The money for this small work has been voted and should, be expended, and we have little doubt that the fact of private individuals here being prepared to make the road themselves, should the Nelson Government decline to do so, will convince Mr Curtis that it is a real necessity. This matter, along with many others bo which, we have no space now to refer, will no doubt be pressed upon his Honor's attention during the forthcoming visit.