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Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1599, 19 September 1873, Page 2

In" an article in the West Coast Times on the subject of the Province of Westland Bill, it was said, in reference to the Grey Coal Reserve being made available for the navigation of the Grey — " We are not aware that anyone in Hokitika has the slightest objection to the Reserve being so used," &c 7 This brief allusion to a probable and proper sentiment rouses the wrath of Mr John Cross, who, entering the realms of ppesy, and quitting those of reason, thus delivers himself : — " Now, Sir, I as a member of the Borough Council of Hokitika (who are the real conservators of the erratic Hokitika River) do most decidedly object to the monopoly of the whole of the proceeds of the said coal-field by Greymouth. Whilst we have an equal claim upon the resources of Westland with Greymouth it is but just that we get an equal share." And so on ; this erratic conservator of the Hokitika arguing, after the fashion of the' Hon. Mr Bonaz", and on the principle that " what his is mine, and mine's my own," that the Borough Council of Hokitika should be endowed, in addition to its present possessions, with part, of an estate tp which it cannot have pretentions on any possible excuse. Surely the history of this reserve must now be thoroughly known, and, if it is known, can any unbigotted being suggest a reason for the slightest deviation from its original design — the improvement of the navigation of the river Grey for exporting the coal which the reserve contains. With equal fairness Cobden might claim a share of the coal reserves at the Buller, Ngakawhau, or Collingwood ; yet Cobden — wee, modest, moss-grown flower — has never raised its head so high as Hokitika or its patriot and poet, Mr Cross.