THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GOLD FIELDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 967, 1 September 1871, Page 3

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GOLD FIELDS.

PUBLIC MEETING AT AHAUik.

I An influential and numerously attended public meeting was held at, the Albion Hotel, Ahaura, on Tuesday, 29th instant, to take into consideration the gross mismanagement of the Grey Valley portion of the Nelson South- West Gold Fields by the Nelson Provincial Government, and to devise some remedy for the grievances under which the population of the mining and agricultural districts are suffering. Among the representatives present from the several outlying districts we noticed Messrs J. F. Johnstone, Antonio's Flat; Jas. Ferguson, Hikmattia ; D. Donald, B. M'Neill, Robert Alcoru, Michael Savage, Antonio Lardi, and others; from Totara Flat ; John Reid, Riverbank Station ; J. M 'Arthur and J. Elliott, Pyke's Plains ; Jas. M'Laughlin, Noble's ; Jas. Lock, Napoleon ; Archibald M'Donald and F. Stratford, Half-Ounce ; J. Connolly, Orwell Creek ; James Kittiety, CaHaghan; Creek" •:;>Hl- M. Moore, Kiverview, Upper Ahaara ; Jas. Stewart, Nelson Creek ; P. Elliott, Moonlight ; Geo. Walker, Marui JPlajns, and most of the residents of the old and new Ahaura town- ■ ships. H Mr J. D r Pinkerton was called to the I chair, and read the advertisement calling H the meeting. H The Chairman said they were called ■together to consider matters of moment ■and weight to everyone resident in, or ■connected with the Grey Valley. The ■grievances they w,ere laboring under' ■need not be detailed by him, they ■were well known to everyone preHsent, and how they were assembled Hto take the first steps towards, having ■those grievances redressed. The repreHsentative of the district in the General ■Assembly had taken the, initiative in the' ■matter, and it would be for them, his conHstituents, to strengthen his hands and Henable him to give effect to his good inHtentions. The Chairman then bespoke a and impartial hearing for those who Hnight address ;. the meeting j and called Hapon Mr W. S. Staite to move the first „., ■ . > v ': u> - ; -^ ■'■■■ H Mr SiATTfe regretted the resolution he been called^;, on, to propose^had not into 'abler hands. He was not an resident of the .district, neither had he great interest" at 'stake in it, but his Hphole interest was , bound up with the of ; the" Grey Valley. He had been selected to bring the resoluhe was about to propose before the Hneeting on the same principle that junior in military movements were chosen Ho go beforehand prepare the way for more veterans, who had command heavier metal, to bring up their forces. crisis had now arrived when it became duty to be alive to their common and welfare. The district had and- was su&ering from gross on the part of those who had the and expenditure of our local The "continual cry of the Gowas, that- there was no money for the performance of our public woi-ks ; but this excuse not stand the test of examination the delay^in forming the main street the town, was, to give a local instance, inexcusable. The moi^ey to execute this paltry as it was, had been available a month or six weeks, and this work remained undone. The inhabitants of Grey Valley had taken every possible bf having' their" requirements before the Nelson Provincial and Executive; their represenhad been treated with contempt indifference by both bodies, and now would ask those present were they to suffer such treatment any longer making an effort to procure a of the disabilities under which were laboring? They might not any richer or poorer by making an effort^ but it would be a satisfacto be able to say that an attempt, if it should be unsuccessful, had made to better-their condition. It shameful to look round and perceive manner in which their valuable rewere lying undeveloped, and it an undeniable fact that there were of tons of produce lying at their homesteads, the value of which depreciated 100 per cent, for the of roads by which to reach a market. inhabitants of the place must make heard, and it was only by and persistent agitation they' expect to do so. Mr Harrison, in General Assembly, and Mr Hoos, in County Council, had each by the they originated given expression the feelings of the people of that place, H was now for the inhabitants to say* it was desirable to, remain, any , longer they were. They need not expect from the Nelson Government, they (the Government) were not in ignorance of our. 'position. Curtis, Greenfield, Donne, and of the Executive had visited the Gold Fields, and the only of their visits was a heavy item in Provincial Estimates to pay the expenses. There was a time the appearance of a member or reof the Government on the Fields meant something besides a tour of Government officials, who themselves over worked. * When like Kynnersley and Dutton, genilewhose names would always be wolwith feelings of respect and gration the gold fields, were trusted with exercise of discretionary power, their visits had different results. Misand bad government began the Nelson Government saw fit, in questionable wisdom,' to control the of the gentlemen whose names he mentioned, and they could not but the conduct of Mr Dutton, who, he made a representation to the that a certain work was abnecessary, and gave hie estimate its probabltr-cost, instAHtly threw \ip appointment when the 'Government aside a sou of money equal to about penny in the pound of the amount to perform the work. No fault be found with the representatives of

the Nplsori Government living among people there at present, but the powers of these officers were so limited, and circumscribed that, the' amount of authority ,tliey possessed, was < a positive evil, qr, at all events,, a negative^'gpod. - What the people wanted was some person on the I spot to manag^ffairs promptly arid;effectively, withoji^goingtQ Nelson for directions or instructions, Mr Staite then proposed the', following resolution, and. resumed his seat amidst loud applause — l [ That this meeting is of opinion that the Provincial Government of Nelson for some years pasijy has ruinously mismanaged the Nelson South-West Gold Fields, and has displayed a' total, disregard of the wants and interests of the residents thereon." Mr Jas. M'Laughlin seconded the resolution, which, was parried unanimously. Mr E»WABii FiRASER proposed the next resolution, and remarked, that as one of . the first residents in the place, he could unfortunately bear testimony to the utterly unreliable , character of the Nelson Government; The Government were at all times rlady . to make promises, and they were .iegually ready to break them. Roads had ( bden promised in every direction, public' works of every despription . had been contemplated and provided for on the estimates, but there they remained. It was no use' trying longer to persuade the Nelsop .Gfpvernment to do anything for the good of the Grey Valley, and a change was desirable, if only for the bare possibility of its being a change for the better. He hoped the resolution he had to propose wo\ild meet with their approbation, and he trusted that it would be carried unanimously— "That it is desirable that the General Government should assume the control of public expenditure in this district, in ordsr that the money voted for roads and other public works may be immediately expended." P. M'lnernay seconded the resolution. -.'■■-■ Mr David Donald supported the motion, and said he was gratified to see such a large gathering on the present occasion. He felt satisfied that.the people were now thoroughly aware of the necessity of doing justice to themselves ; and the discontent and dissatisfaction felt at the doings of the Nelson Government must be deep-rooted and wide-spread to cause such an assemblage from all parts of the Grey Valley, and even outside its limits, to meet together that evening. He need not impress upon them the importance of making every effort to carry this movement to a successful conclusion. Prompt and energetic action was required now, for they had waited, and hoped against hope long enough. He had much pleasure in heartily supporting the resolution. The Chairman then put the resolution, which was carried without a dissentient voice. Mr Robert Alcorn, in rising to move the third resolution, said that properly speaking the resolution he had to propose was' disposed of when the meeting passed the previous motion. But the subject of the motion he was about to make was of such vital importance that he thought it deserved special and separate notice.. No matter what action the General Government might take with reference to the Gold Fields during the present session of the Assembly, the construction at once of a main line of road from Greymouth to the Inangahua was necessary to the existence of the Grey Valley as a centre of population. He had lived for some years under the control of the Nelson Government, and his opinion was that it was the least progressive of any Provincial Government in the Colony. The revenues were not spent or pretended to be spent for the good of the people. If, put of a, revenue of some LBO.OOO, it took L40,00l) to govern the Province, or half its entire income, how could the people \vho were thus plundered prosper or be contented? If the Nelson Government had spent the money they received wisely, there would not be a necessity for such a meeting as the present. The Government were going to make a railway to Brunnerton, it was said, and it was also alleged that because they had water carriage aroad was not necessary ; but although railways were good and water carriage was convenient, a good dray road was the great want. The General Government had the means to construct the work, and from that quarter the boon must come, for if the Provincial Government intended to act honestly by the people, the work iti question would have been performed long ago. Thespeakerthen moved thefollowing resolntion': — "That the General Government be specially petitioned to construct a. main trunk road from Greymouth to the Inaugahua with Colonial Government funds." Mr G. Fraser seconded the resolution, which was carried. , '.'..' Mr James Kittelty moved the fourth resolution — "That a- petition, setting forth, the' grievances of the, district, be prepared and signed, and that the same, with copies of resolutions— one, two, and three— be forwarded to W. H. Harison, Esq., ; M.H.R., for presentation to the General Assembly." Seconded by .Mr John M' Arthur, and carried. Moved by Mr R. Aicorn, and seconded ,by=Mr John Hamilton (GUmer)— " That a committee, consisting of Messrs J. D. Pinkerton, A. White, J. M'Laughlin, J. Hamilton (Gilmer), James Hayes, W. J. Potts, M. H. Hayden, W. S. Staite, D.. Donald, wtid the mover, be appointed to carry the foregoing resolutions into effect. Carried, A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. Arrangements have been made to transmit the foregoing resolutions to Mr Harriaon by telegraph at once, and the memorial will be prepared and forwarded without delay.