DISMEMBERMENT OF THE COUNTY OF WESTLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1002, 12 October 1871, Page 2

DISMEMBERMENT OF THE COUNTY OF WESTLAND.

On Tuesday evening a meeting was held in Hokitika for the purpose of considering the steps to be adopted to avert the threatened dismemberment of the County, and also to bring the matter of roads in Westland prominently before the General Government. The Mayor took the chair. Mr Hoos moved the- first resolution as follows: — "That. this meeting strongly objects to the General Government proposing any alterations in any constitutionally constituted form of Government, without giving due notice and time to the inhabitants of that portion of the Colony affected, to express an opinion thereon, and that the inhabitantsof the Grey district be asked to co-operate in giving effect to this resolution." He said that; there was scarcely any necessity for him to say much to the resolution which had' been placed in his hands to move. It was manifestly unfair on the part of the Government to propese alterations, vitally affecting the interests of the people without giving any notice of their intention. The course adopted by the Ministry must be as unsatisfactory to the Grey, as to this district, and the protest conveyed in the resolution only expressed the sentiment which must be general in both districts. It is certainly cool assurance on the part of Mr Hoos to bring forward such a resolution as the above, and ask the inhabitants of the Grey to co-operate with Hokitika in desiring a continuance of the present system. The resolution, it is needless to say, was carried unanimously. The following resolutions were ajso carried;—" That the inhabitants of the County of Westland deeply regret that the Colonial. Treasurer should, have deemed it expedient to announce that it was the intention of the Government to annex a portion of the County of Westland to the Nelson Province, and that the inhabitants of the County request the Government to stay all proceedings with regard 4o the dismemberment of the County, until the public have given an opinion as to its desirability." "That this meeting would earnestly press upon the General Government the urgent necessity for at once proceeding with the Ross road as at present proposed, viz., & dray road, and that the construction of this road take precedence of any side road." " That this meeting would urge upon the General Government the necessity of extending the proposed railroad from the Coal Mine to the Grey down to Hokitika." The principal speakers were —the inevitable John Cross, " who had little doubt but that Mr Harrison was at the bottom of this affair j" Mr Hawkins, who be-: licved that dismemberment would increase the burdens of the county, "inasmuch as a staff must necessarily be kept up ;" Mr Macfarlane, who "reminded the meeting that when Mr Sewell, '■■•* member of the Government, was in Hokitika, he made a) distinct promise that instead of the County! boundary being limited to the Teremakan, it would be extended to the Buller. That promise was now, it appeared, to be to-' tally ignored." This gentleman was also: great on railways and roada, for a road

to Ross "might be the means of opening up a new gold field, and that was too desirable a matter to be despised ;'■ and he also "entered into an explanation to prove that though a railway from Greymouth to Hokifcika would be costly because of the bridge over the Teremakau, yet it would pay sufficiently well to offer inducement for its construction. Besides the ordinary traffic, coals could be brought down and shipped to Melbourne, instead of the vessels returning there in ballasi." MrW. Evans, who " considered the question of the road to Robs r as. even of,.uiore: importance than that of annexation ■;". and Mr John Barrett, who differed from him. Mr Hoos came oat strongly on a variety of topics, and believed " there was yet time to avert the threatened evil, and even, perhaps to get a. slice of the Province of Nelson attached to Westland, instead of a part of the County being cut off.". It^-ia needless to say the meeting was unanimous.