THE Grey Riber Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY JUNE 17,1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1219, 17 June 1872, Page 2

THE Grey Riber Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY JUNE 17,1872.

Although up to the present time no action has been taken on the recommendations of Mr Harrison, in reference to administrative changes on this Coast, the importance of the subject has been fully recognised by all classes, and as freely discussed. It is with great regret we find a Southern contemporary, the West Coast Times, taken such a contemptible part in a discussion that must naturally arise when such vast organic changes are proposed. We had hoped that on this occasion that journal would have in some degree recovered its old prestige, and though it could not " call up the spirits from the vaaty deep," at least have applied to Borne of the old writers to argue on its behalf. We regret the decadence of our contemporary aa heartily as the Hokitika public must do, and in all sincerity would be delighted to find the West Coast Times of some five years ago exising on the Coast. Were this the case, Westand might have a chance of recovering, or obtaining rather, its proper position. As matters are at present, the Hokitika district is virtually unrepresented by its press. We have already indicated the moving causes that have, in our opinion, induced opposition on the part of our contemporary, but we do not care to pursue the subject, or to further explain the origin of antagonism to the principle of the scheme submitted by Mr Harrison. Leaving the public, however, to judge of the reasons and the motives that have prompted the Hokitika press and its proprietor, we will proceed to divest the matter of its surplusage and come to the mere matter of fact involved. On Saturday last, we may observe, , en passant, the Times contained an article, about as devoid of argument as ever, but fully as personal as that journal has of late been. We republished some of its latest ; we forbear from doing bo now. As a matter of course, Mr Harrison is the burden of the very maimed song, and through him the real question at. issue is judiciously shirked. The whole article avoids the subject, and really contains nothing to answer. If the West Coast Times expects to gain credence or respect at head-quarters, it must choose some other writer to explain its views, for at present any ordinary individual would naturally be "in a fog" as to what it really does mean. Our contemporary, from > the beginning to the end, seems to desire to throw dust in the eyes of the public, and to believe that the said public are such fools as to allow it to do it. The conductors of the journal in question must be in an utterly benighted condition as far as politics go. We said we would refrain from quoting him, but a little bit of ignorance contained in the article we now refer to is too good to be lost. Speaking of retrenchment it states that — "The Police, the Treasury, the Waste Lands Board,' the Wardens, the Courts of Justice, the Gaol, the Hospital, and every other department at present existing would be still required, and if transferred to other and less directly responsible persons, the public still will fill the moat important office of all— that of Paymaster General." We admit the truth of the statement to the fullest extent, but may ask any reasonable being whether the departments in question aro likely to be abrogated by

the advent of new administration ? Is it not likely that all these would be placed on a better and more equitable footing, ; (were they made, as they should be, general charges on the colony, and under direct General Government direction. By such a change, the PaymasterGeneral referred towould havebetterjvalue for his money, and would be both betterand more cheaply served. But in combating shadows such as our contemporary has conjured up, we have to a great, degree forgotten the real question at issue, which really is in brief, whether the West Coast of this island could be better governed under one head or not ; and, if it could, what would be the best form or fashion under which its affairs could be administered ? The Times tries to call its readers away from the point by cavilling at details in the scheme propounded. At the first we pronounced it faulty in detail, though approving of the principle involved, and we see no reason to alter the opinion then expressed. That, to use Mr Harrison'«i words, " a unification" of Government on the West Coast is in the highest degree desirable, no one can surely doubt ; and that is what we wish the public to particularly pay attention to. We can vouch for the South- West Gold Fields of Nelson being heartily discontented, and can also affirm that if release from the County incubus on the goldfields this side of the Grey was possible, the miners would gladly embrace the opportunity. All that is wanted is an expression of opinion to be openly given, when all that is requisite will speedily be obtained. As we have already stated, the discontent of^the miners in the Grey Valley, within Nelson rule, has been most plainly made manifest. Though the same has not been shown so conclusively in the County, the same feeling exista with regard to its form of Government, and we vento say that if a plebiscitihi of its inhabitants were taken, three-fourths, at least, would vote for the abolition of County sway, and the substitution of a less expensive and more just form of administration. At another time we will show where the County experiment has failed, and draw comparisons between its privileges and those of the proposed province. In the meantime we would most earnestly impress on those concerned the importance of the real point under discussion, and beg them not to be led away by false or interested "lights." Without being so misled, let everyone think the question out and form an opinion as to whether it would be better to have one Government, one miner's right, one bußiness license, one auctioneer's, one publican's or other license, run along the Coast, or to allow the miserable arrangements at present existing to prevail. Dropping details, Mr Harrison's recommendations mean such reforms ; is it worth the public's while or not to endorse the principle contained in them? We need hardly answer in the affirmative, for such a reply would be almost universal here. Let us hope that some public effect will be given to the opinion that is undoubtedly prevalent.