THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1573.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1469, 19 April 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1573.

The inhabitants of Greymouth and its district cannot reasonably be blamed for lack of spirit in promoting public enterprises. "Recently, and in connection with the development of one of the staple resources of the district, sufficient spirit has been shown to satisfy the most fastidious. All that remains to be desired in that connection is that the spirit shown may be as well maintained as it was readily evoked. The promotion of one enterprise, however, does not necessarily prove that all public spirit is exhausted, auy more than the appearance of one swallow proves the .advent of summer in parts of the earth where swallows and summers are associated. At least, it is to be hoped that such is not the case, and that there is left in the community sufficient diversity of thought and action to enable them to give attention to other enterprises which are scarcely inferior in importance to that of developing the coal fields of the district. One of these other enterprises is the construction of what is known as the Lake Hochstetter or Nelson Creek Water-race. The last letter of our Grey Valley correspondent conveys the information that, more than a week ago, the surveys for this proposed work were completed, and it is now, therefore, in the power of the Government to proceed with its construction according to their long ago announced intention. Our local experience of the General Government's action in regard to public works certainly docs not by any means justify the community in indulging iv that prevalent and fearful form of feminine vice, " nagging." It is due to the Government to say that it has hitherto, in promoting public works, acted with a promptitude which has been exceedingly refreshing by' its extreme novelty on the West Coast. It would be at the same creditable to the community were they to exhibit some interest in an enterprise the early undertaking of which is of an importance which can scarcely be exaggerated. It is not at all likely that, anxious as it may be to proceed with the work, the Government would receive with any ill-grace a polite request as to the precise prospects, of the work being commenced. It is a year ago now since a definite intimation on the subject was made by the Government, and, with the surveys in hand, there should not be any greater amount of delay in proceeding with the practical work of construction, but neither should there be any exhibition of apathy on the part of the miners and of the many others to whom the undertaking of the work simply means fixture in the Colony and faith in the future of this particular district. The example recently given by the inhabitants of the Hokitika district is, both by the spirit displayed and by its results, worthy of imitation. By a combination of the residents of Hokitika, Stafford, Goldsborough, and other localities, and by communications from them to the Government, public interest in the undertaking of the Waimea water-race was maintained, and the end has been an expression of the intentions of the Government, which is for the present accepted as highly satisfactory. What was done in that district deserves to be done in this district with equal fervor, and there is no reason to suppose that it would be done with results less favorable. " When done, 'twere well 'twere done quickly."