THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1278, 3 September 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1872.

It is an exceeding great relief to discover among the subjects discussed in the barbers' shops, or in the columns of newspapers, some other subject than that on vhich there is danger of debaters on the West Coast becoming monomaniacs — the subject of Nelson misrule. There is even a melancholy satisfaction in finding a fresh subject for dissection in the member for Hokitika, Mr White, yet there is so much more melancholy than satisfaction excited by that hon. gentleman's recent exhibitions as compared with his excellent speech on the gold duty, that, however tempting the opportunity, it aeems preferable to postpone the process of dissection until calmer counsels prevail. It is preferable to revert to older swbjects, and this is particularly excusable when the old subjects present some fresh disease for diagnosis. Our old subjects, the Nelson authorities, have recently exhibited, considerably deeper than the cuticle, some fresh spot 3of disease which fairly demand attention. Instead of being, as hitherto, the much accused, they have recently assumed the position of accusers, and have accused so well, yet so unwisely, that even in their new character they entitle themselves to notice. In another sphere than their own proper sphere — in the House of Representatives — the Superintendent of Nelson, with his Provincial Treasurer, and a quondam member of his Executive, Mr Collins, have endeavored so to shift upon the Premier the responsibility of. the discontent prevailing on the West Coast, and have insinuated so much against the objects and results of recent Ministerial visits to the Coa3t, that it is but proper for those who are intimately acquainted with the circumstances to defend those who are thus attacked and to repeat plainly that which is so abundantly supported by facts.

One of the first assailants of the Premier, during the present session of Parliament, and upon the subject of hia visit to the West Coast, was the Provincial Treasurer of Nelson, Mr Joseph [ Shephard, and we think it will Jbe admitted by those who know the facts and .the men that Mr Shephard was not only, as an assailant, primary in point of time, but primary also in utter disregard of facts. Mr Joseph Shephard would, forsooth, endeavor to lead the House and all the readers of Jlaumrd to believe that the Premier was little more than a- modern Guy Fawkcs, and that the exertions he made, and the interest he took, in acquainting himself with the people and resources of this portion of the Colony were only part of a plot to blow up the Nelson Executive — nothing more. As innocent of a knowledge of the Coast and of the temper of its people as the Superintendent himself, but not so innocent of the circumstances as might be assumed from his remarks, Mr Shephard is reported, in one of his speeches to have said: — "The honorable member at the head of the Government had declared that his visit to the West Coast was not, as stated by some honorable gentlemen, for the purpose of sketching, but that he had a deeper object in view. He (Mr Shephard) believed that the honorable member had a deeper object in view — that of spreading dissatisfaction, and creating in the minds of tho people of that district a desire to separate from the Goi vernment with which they had been connected from the beginning of the Colony. That was the object of the honorable member, whatever color of doing justice to the district or gaining information he might give to his actions. He would ask if the change proposed was not hasty. He said it was a hasty change : it was one of those changes that could only be accounted for|by the wai.derings of the Premier on the West Coast. The honorable gentleman went down there certainly not only to sketch, but with a deeper object. It might, perhaps be, that he went down there with a definite object, and that surrounding circumstances were forced into appearing to favor it, — that while on the West Coast he met with persons who were ready to supply him with information of a certain class and of a captain degree of truth, and he was thus induced t>o endeavor to carry out measures for the dismemberment of a Province, the head of which, it so hap* pened, was not one of his political supr porters. He, however, affirmed that, when the measure did come before the House, further revelations would be made, further* reasons would be given, and facts would bo adduced in opposition to. the vague statements and flippant rhetoric of the Premier, and which would entirely upset the case of the Government." Our re&dpra,we are sure, whether they view strongly or lightly, warmly or with indifference, the condition of the Coast or the causes of that condition, will be led, by their • vra observation and experience, to repel guch assertions as are applied to Mr Fox as accusations which are altogether unwarranted, and acccusations of which the author, Mr Shephard, has little reason to be proud. There is not a tittle i >f evidence upon which Mr Shophard could base such presumptions, but there \% much evidence of the Premier's ' reticence and avoidance of any acfcjon

which would excite the discontent which requires so little excitation. Mr Shephard aims, with others, at .the success of the so-called Provincial party ; he aspires, it is said, to being himself Superintendent, should the shifting of the cards place a higher trump in the hands of Mr Curtis. If Mr Shephard expects any sympathy on the West Coast, oither in his present or any problematical capacity, he would do wisely not to contemn the intelligence of men who are quite -capable of discovering causes of discontent without the promptings of a Premier — not to contemn even the art of sketching. If he is half as true to Nature as is the Premier in sketching, rhetorically or otherwise, tho state of things on the West Coast, he will earn respect for his art, his honesty, and himself, far more readily than by any ingenious, but disingenuous caricature, and in this instance he does most unfairly represent motives, men, and facts.