PROPOSED NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1262, 15 August 1872, Page 2

PROPOSED NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

MEETING AT, HOKITIKA.

A public meeting was held at the Town Hall, Hokitika, on Tuesday evening, convened" by the Mayor, for the purpose of , taking into, consideration the ,., proposed new form of Government. In the" absence ofthe Mayor, Mr; Tait was voted to the chair. Mr Banks (who acted as honorary secretary for the occasion) read the resolutions passed by the County Council, and the Greymouth memorial. Mi J ohn Cros3 ptfopdsed the first resolution, which was subsequently divided, and the first part was passed by acclamation as follows :— : "-That this meeting is of opinion that the present County of Westland and the districts known as the Nelson South-West Gold Fields Bhould be under one local Government."' Mr Banks then, moved the second part — " That the form of the County Government be retained, if possible, and that the adequate number of members from the annexed district be added .to the County Council." : , The motion was seconded by Mr Barrett, and carried with only two dissentients. Mr Alcorn moved—" That a committee consisting .of Messrs Tait, Klein, F. L. Clarke, Preshaw, Macfarlane, Barrett, Hawkins, and the mover, be appointed to draw up a memorial to the General Assembly, in accordance with the resolutions passed by,the meeting." The motion was seconded by Mr Tilbrook, and carried. ?r - ■ Mr Lahman (who, with other members of the- County Council, was present) said that looking at the matter in a business point of view, the question was whether such a union would be beneficial, and no other but an affimative answer could be given to the question. Off the ~We hand the Nelson South-West Gold Fields would benefit by the change, and on the other the County would be enabled to effect a, saving in the cost of administration. There was, however, a greater advantage that the County would, gain, and that; was in the increased weight it would have in. the Assembly, enabling it byit3 larger importance to obtain justice. Hitherto the power of the Council had -been so small that it was treated by the General Government with but little consideration, but with an extension of territory, and an increased number of representatives the County would be enabled >to obtain justice for itself, and even, perhaps, to procure the re-adjustment of the Canterbury debt. The meeting had been called because the [Ministry contemplated the bringing in of a measure for uniting the West Coast Gold Fields, and desired to have the wishes of the inhabitants expressed on the matter. He (MrLahmari) did not believe that |there was any likelihood of the seat of Government for, the County being changed, but at all event 3 such, a change could not be effected for years to come, as no new Government could incur the cost that would be involved. He trusted, therefore, that such a bugbear would not weigh with the meeting, aud deter them from uniting with the other districts on the Coast in the movement for a junction under one Government. It. was true that some difference' of opinion prevailed as to the form which the new Government should take, but the difference was not of an important character, and was more in the term used than in the meaning it expressed. He had no doubt that the opinions expressed by the County Council, as a representative body, would weigh very strongly with the Government, and with the Assembly, but after all it was only a matter of a name, and the real question was whether a union should be effected which would benefit the whole of the West Coast Gold Fields.

Mr Fox and Mr W. M%ean both spoke on the general question^4Mr Fox condemning Mr Curtis's statements regarding the Premier's visit to the West Coast as being contrary to the facts, and Mr M 'Lean contradicting Mr Curtis's assertions regarding approval of the Nelson Government at Reefton. With reference to the question before the meeting Mr M'Lean thought that it would be better to adopt the Greymouth petition, ' as otherwise the Superintendent would have his hands strengthened, as they would say that all the County desired was extension of territory. •

Mr Bonar said the question which the meeting had to deal with, was simply whether it was desirable to unite . the West Coast Gold Fields under one Government j the details were not of .much importance. There was indeed little, if any, real difference of opinion throughout the Coast. At Greynionth, Westpoyt, and other places to the north, there was a feeling in favor of a modified P>rovinge|j here a County was preferred. The difference was very little more than in name, and could be adjusted without difficulty. What was really wanted was 'union. The need of that was perhaps felt more at the Grey than here, where the arbitrary boundary of the river was really oppressive. The Nelson Government, too, seemed mr clinedto make the boundary line as annoy? ing as possible. The only remedy was to unite the gold fields, and so united they would be. strong. He might mention a fact that was perhaps but little known, that since the opening ofthe gold fields on the West Coast, W much gold had been exported from them as from Otago since it was opened. Here, therefore, was a large population, and a rich population, weak only because it was split up, when, if*it were united, it would be strong. The same feeling that actuated Westland in seeking separation from Canterbury was now influencing the Nelson South-West Gold Fields. They said in effect, that Nelson did not understand their wants, and made no provision for them. By united action the wrongs of , the County, and of the Nelson South-West Gold Fields, would be righted in spite of the action of the Superintendents of Provinces. Mr Curtis was at the head of that movement, and with good reason; he was naturally averse to have lopped off from the Province a district from which a large revenue was derived and nothing sparcely given in return. Moneys were certainly voted by the N,elson provincial Oounql for expenditure on the gold fields, but the votes were not expended, and the money was spent on qther places within kelson proper. He trusted that the people all over the Coast would agree together and join into one grand united whole. . After these and other remarks the resolutions referred to above were passed.

: The Melbourne Gas Company has declared a dividend of 8 per cent, :