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Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 948, 10 August 1871, Page 2

There has been a considerable amount of talk lately concerning the publication of the County Government advertisements in the local newspapers, and the name of this journal has been conspicuously dragged in. We take no part in such a discussion, because we have no desire to drag our private business affairs before the public j but we wish to point out an instance which occurred only on Tuesday last, in which the residents here are likely to suffer through the present system. In the Waste Lands Board on Tuesday, Mr F. Guinness applied that cc rtain land ad j oining the town of Greymouth, which the Board had declared open for sale, should be withdrawn, oh the ground that it is auriferous, and that a certain portl&tf, of it is now being worked. After some discussion, it was decided that all the land three <cshaing west of Shakspeare street should he withdrawn from sale. Now, what information is it to the general public that certain-lands are withdrawn from sale ? and we turn to the Westland Gazette of Tuesday last for information but find none, however, on the contrary, we find that a 'block of land in the immediate Vicinity of the jfcown has been declared open for sale, but no such announcement is made in the local journals. As we do not, under present, circumstances.* intend to do any gratuitous advertising for the Waste Lands Boards, those who are interested in the' sale of any block of land around the township had better become subscribers to the Government Gazette. This matter attracted attention at the. last meeting of the Waste Lands Board, and as it is quite as well that the people should , know the opinions of the members concerning it, we subjoin the following notes of the discussion : — " The Chief Commissioner brought under notice the question of giving mope publicity to notifications of the Board than

hitherto. Mr Lahman said that he desired to have no control over the matter ; he left it entirely with the Board. The Chief Commissioner remarked that a suggestion had been ,mad* by Mr Hoos- that the Board Should decide in each instance in which paper the advertisement should be inserted, There woujd be no graat difficulty in adopting the suggestion, though it might bo inconvenient at times. Mr Lahman thought tjie matter might be left with the olerk. Mr Hoos objected to that course. Mr Evans proppaed that it should be left in the hands of the Chief Commissioner to advertise as he deemed necessary. The Chief Commissioner had no objection, but he Bhould like 'some general instruction from the Board. When a matter affected some place out of Hokitika, and he advertised in the ; local journal, should he not advertise also in the place where the Board held its sittings 1 Mr Hoos thought that all that would be necessary to advertise would be a short notification referring to the Gazette notice. The Chief Commissioner was wholly averse to that course; as useless, scarcely any person, however much he might be directed, would refer to the Gazette. Ultimately it was agreed that the matter should be left entirely in the hands of the Chief Commissioner."