THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 975, 11 September 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1871.

Reverting to the subject of the leader which appeared in our issue of Saturday, we have since been honored with a visit frotp cur representative and County Chairman. Whether that was in the nature of a private visit, or in his official capacity we know' not, still it has given rise to much surmise on the part of the inhabitants of Greymouth. It is rumored that his visit was attributable to tele- . grams .which he had received from Greymouth, in reference to the Main Trunk 'Road, whilst on the other hand, it is stated he had to visit the Teremakau, and lengthened his journey to Greymouth. Be that as it may, rumor is rife, and the object of the visit, so far as we can learn, is still-in darkness. We should certainly, however, advise the residents to be very cautious in receiving even the assurance of the County Chairman as to his intentions; We do hot for one moment wish to cast reflections on our County Chairman, still at the same time we cannot disabuse our mind of what appears to us a fact that he is imbued to a great extent by " Hokitika influence;" Notwithstanding the telegram which we received and published on Saturday with reference to a road froth the thirty-three mile-posi on the Christchurch road, skirtiu" Lake Brnnnar, the Arnold, and Maori Gully, what assurance, -might we ask, have we that such a road will ever be made. True it is, if Mr Lahman's telegram, which we received and published, be correct (and we. have no rea3onto think otherwise), yet if, on the other hand, Mr Harrison and Mr Tribe have the assurance of the Government that no deviation will .be -made in the line of road as laid down by the Engineers, surely the assurance is of far greater weight than a simple telegram from the County- Chairman, recommending another road from the thirty-three mile-post. If, in his recommendation, the County Chairman had stated, that in the event of the Government agreeing to his advice, the five miles of loop road from the seventeen mile-post would go towards the formation of the road from the thirty-three milepost, we could have seen some 'reason in it; but when he absolutely advises that the amount be spent in the immediate vicinity of Hokitika, we are certainly more inclined than ever to think that " Hokitika influence " is at the bottom of the whole proceeding. We have no wish to argue the matter entirely from a Greymouth point of view, as the distance even by the loop road is much about the same ; but we. shall take a broader view of the matter, and argue for the Waimea, Stafford Town, and Greenstone Districts. The loop road would bring all these districts within an easy distance of the Chirstchurch Road, and these districts, as well as Grqymouth, have to pay their proportion to the maintainance of the road. Why, therefore, should they be cut «ff from the advantage which they would derive frqtn such a road? This appears to us easily answered-^vijs., the " Hokitika influence" brought to bear on our County Chairman is too strong for him to withstand. The Waimea, Greenstone, and Stafford Town Districts would greatly gain by such a road, and in the event of no alteration being made by. the Government on the line of road as laid down, the Greymouth District, although not to the same extent, would also reap a benefit, <Jt might be asked how they would do sbT To this we answer— to the Omotumotu Greek, from the seventeen mile-post is two mil<3s shorter than by the " circuitous route" by way ftf Hpkitika. Not only that, but it would be a good metalled road all the way, instead of travelling over N the beach. True, Greymouth would not benefit so far as its connection with Hokitika is concerned, still it had the beach road at its option, which iv either of the ' cases it srould be compelled to adopt. That the road from the thirty-three mile post, via Lake Briinner and Arnold Districts, would be of great benefit in opening up the country we agree, and yet it would become comparatively useless by the want of the dray roac 7 from tho Gmoturaotti Creek to the Coal Mine.. This portion of the road ought to, , have . tho serious, consideration ;of the. County Ghainaan, for no matter whether the road comes from the seventeen mile-post or the thirty -three mikvpost, on tha Christchurch Road, it is of vital importance go the town and district of Greymouth that the road should be immediately formed to connect with the Arnold Road.