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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1336, 9 November 1872, Page 2

The contracts for carrying her Majesty's mails during the year 1873 have now been let, and our readers will have noticed that several changes have been made in the services in the Grey district. The two principal alterations relate to the services between Greymouth and Reefton and Greymouth and Hokitika. 'In the former case tho contract made with Messrs Ash-

ton and Cassidy, to carry the mails by coach, is a welcome concession made by the Government, and we mayfairly congratulate the inhabitants of the Grey Valley upon the prospect of this mode of conveyance being so soon commenced.

In the other case, the contracts made provide for the maik between Greymouth and Hokitika being carried round by the inland road to Marsden, and thence to Grreymoufch by the two tramways and vice versa, in lieu of by coach direct via the beach as heretofore. As some difference of opinion exists as to the desirability of making this latter alteration, we will endeavor to state both sides of the case. On the one hand, it is evident that the new route must of necessity involve a loss of time in the transit of mails, and be less convenient to passengers. On the other hand, it will enable the mails to be despatched from, and to arrive at, Greymouth and Hokitika at a uniform hour without regard to the state of the tide. It also enables mails to be despatched to Greenstone, Goldsborough, and. Stafford direct, instead of the present round-about plan of sending them round by Hokitika —in other words, a letter despatched from Greymouth will be delivered at the Greenstone in about four hours instead of three days. We are much mistaken if tbe public will not consider tliese advantages cheaply purchased at the cost of a few hours extra being occupied by the passage ; for the present plan of altering the hours for the departure and arrival of the mails is excessively troublesome and inconvenient and frequently causes the post to be missed. It also at intervals necessitates the delivery of the letters being deferred till the next morning after their arrival, whilst under the new system it is intended to deliver them regularly the same day. And the advantage of a ready means of communication with the Greenstone district is a substantial one. That district has hitherto been virtually cut off from Greymouth and annexed to Hokitika, in consequence of the only existing road to it being made in the direction of the latter place. It is true that Greymouth cannot yet expect to compete with Hokitika for the Greenstone trade, until the missing link in the trunk road is supplied, but in the meantime it is something gained to have a daily interchange of letters between the two places. We indulge the hope also that the very fact of the mails being carried round by the inland route, will bring more particularly under the notice of the Government the inconveniences which result from the want of the through communication by road between the two principal towns of the Wes<Coast. In respect to the risk of deten • tion from floods, the two routes are about equal. The New River may be set-off against the Greenstone Creek and Blackwater, whilst the Teremakau and Kapitea are common to both. If anything, the balance is in favor of tho new line, as bridging would there be an easier matter than on the sea coast. The cost of the new 3ervice is about £240 per annum, whilst the services to the same places cost last year £730, showing a saving of something like £500, and although the charge does not fall upon the County, we cannot dispute the right of the General Government and its officers to study economy, so long as it is compatible with efficiency. That they do duly consider the latter point is shown by the readiness with which they conceded the payment of an extra £250 for the Reefton line in order to obtain a coach service. We think, therefore, that the action of the Government in regard to our local mail arrangements for the ensuing year is worthy of approval, always supposing that sufficient precautions have been taken to ensure the due and punctual fulfilment of the several contracts. _ We may add that the Reefton service is to commence on Ist January next, and that betweeu Greymouth and Hokitika on Ist February.