THE The Drey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1082, 16 January 1872, Page 2

THE The Drey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1872.

In our issue of yesterday we drew Jittenfcinn lo the progress made by Messrs O'Miillf-y and Jenkins in opening the new track from the Little Grey Junction to Reefton, thereby reducing the distance from over thirty miles to a, little less than twenty, besides opening up new country and rendering the reefs easier of access. It now transpires that the visit of Dr Hector was not confined to merely examing the quartz-reefs and the various mineral resources of the Inangahua and Murray districts, respecting which it is rumored that he entertains a very high opinion, fully conßrming all "-tkqt we have advanced in their favor, but also^ia select the most desirable route for the formation of a road, and for this object he has undertaken an examination of the country from Reefton to the Buller Junction, and from thence to Westport, and after making enquiries and examining the Mount Rochefort coal deposits and the best means of rendering those vast beds of coal accessible from the seaboard, he will return and view the route via the Grey Valley. 'In doing so, it is to be hoped he will thoroughly investigate the track to which we have alluded. In the action of the Government, as shown by the despatching of perhaps the greatest available scientific authority in New Zealand, whose instructions must have been of a more comprehensive character than was at first supposed ; also in the appointment of Mr Haughton as Under-Secretary for the Gold Fields, and whose arrival on the West

Coast is now shortly expected, sufficient evidence is shown of the initiation of the new policy in regard to the Gold Fields foreshadowed in the course of the last session, the result of which will be the withdrawal of the Gold Fields from Provincial and County mismanagement, and the placing them under the direct control of the General Government. This step has been forced upon the Government.by the palpable evidence furnished of the manner in which the rich gold-bearing districts have been treated in regard to means of communication, and the selfish policy hitherto pursued by the Nelson Government, which have regarded the Gold Fields, until within the last few weeks, as a bete noire— a, something to be shunned and avoided. The meeting held atßeefton last week— most opportunely prior to the arrival of Dr Hector— pointed out the great injustice done to the district by the want of roads either to Westport or the Grey, and the petition to the General Government, praying them to take action in the matter will not be lost, and will do much to strengthen the Government in its evident intention, j but the advantages of the road up the Grey Valley are so manifest that there will be but little doubt as to the course Dr Hector will recommend, as it is wellknown that to make a road over some portion of the route between Westport and the reefs would be almost as difficult an undertaking as constructing ,the road over Chat Moss. We do not say that it is impossible, but we believe that it can never be a work of a lasting nature, whereas, in a little while, a good road will exist direct from Greyraouth to the Little Grey — that is, a comparatively good road, or which could be made so at a little outlay, only the short-sighted policy of the Nelson Government will not allow the roads to be kept in anything like repair, but when the Nelson people do wake up, it is like the wakening of Rip Van Winkle, and when they hear of the gold fields going ahead they will rub their eyes and "Yonder vere they vos," and wonder if it is not possible to transport the goldfields into the middle of Sleepy Hollow. Accordingly, all sorts of absurd schemes are propounded for the purpose. One proposes a road, another a tramway, while they all go in for expending the money, somehow, or other in connection with " Nelson Proper." It is not so long since that in advocating the Foxhill Bailway scheme, the various speakers dilated upon the great advantages it would confer on the miners of the Buller, Lyell, and Inangahua districts, but then the railway was to terminate at Foxhill, and these sages became quite enthusiastic in the advantages that would accrue to the mining population if this railway was constructed ; but, unfortunately, there was a ' gap of 60 miles, which the miner would have, to climb, walk, and flounder through before the Foxhill haven could be reached. Now, however, their good wishes have taken another turn. There is a sum of L 24,000 to be expended out of the Middle Island Railway Fund in making roads on the South West Gold Fields. The Nelson papers say, . Why not expend thij sum in making a road from the Junction of the Buller and Inangahua to Nelson, and then all the trade would flow to and from Nelson. Happy thought ! Bright emanation of genius ! Rip Van Winkle is himself again ! One Robert Preston Bain has been writing to the Nelson newspapers on tho subject ; oo has Mr M. Lightbcond, bo. him Sir D. Monro and others ; and Mr Bain opens his communication with the startling announcement — "That there is very little doubt now but that the Inangahua reefs will turn out a success," but he don't know this from his own personal knowledge, as be goes on to say, "and although I have not been on the ground myself, I believe, from what I have learnt from most reliable sources, that the Inangahua district will prove a flourishing one, and it is within the bounds of probability that it may prove the Thames of the Middle Island. lam therefore surprised, when I see the rivalry that exists between Westport and Greymouth, as to which place shall be the emporium for the Inangahua, and the great exertions the inhabitants of both places are making to command the trade, that no effort is being made by the business men in Nelson to secure Ihe trade to this town. It is true the ports on the West Coast are nearer to the reefs, but the difficulties of communication are greater than from here, and I believe that if a little energy were displayed, the bulk of the trace could be secured to Nelson ; but it requires immediate action, as it is very difficult to divert a trade when once in a particular channel." And then he goes on to suggest how it could be done by means of a road and a tramway, which could be done for about .£3o,ooo— just .£6OOO more than the amount of the Nelson portion of the Middle Island Railway Fund for expenditure on the Gold Fields. He then goes on to say, "I feel : confident that the making of this 50 miles of tramway would secure the bulk of the traffic to Nelson, but this would only be part of the benefit. It would open up a fine agricultural and mineral district, where, if provisions could ho obtained at a reasonable cost, the ininin>r population would increase tenf ild." And this idea is endorsed by the wholf of the inhabitants of Nelson Proper, and no doubt it is such views as these that have induced the Government to take the action they have. We shall await with some eagerness the result of Dr. Hector's report, as immediate action will be taken on it, and no doubt can reasonably exist that it will recommend the route to be made up the Grey Valley, through the Saddle Bush, or over O'Malley's Track, with an extension down the inangahua Valley.