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Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1602, 23 September 1873, Page 2

If perseverance deserves success, it should certainly be achieved by the so-called

pioneer of the West Coast, Mr Reuben Waite. Session after session, he has been a most persistent petitioner to the Provincial Council of Nelson, praying for compensation for losses through the portion of the Buller pakihis over which he held a license, being converted from innutritious grass -land into profitable diggings. Yet only on one occasion did his prayer find favorable response from that' body. They voted him LIOO, the understanding, it is said, being that he should buy, out of the so-styled run which had become a gold-field, the land which he had selected as a homestead. Mr Wake wanted more. He solicited the cancelling of his license, but the Government, become wise in their generation by experience gained in the case of Pyke's run and elsewhere, failed to see the pro- | posal in the same light as the proposer. While thus petitioning, and neglecting to purchase, a technical point was gained against Mr Waite by the time in which he should have purchased lapsing, and when, after the lapse of years a -probable increase in the value of property, he sought to purchase, the Waste Lands Board felt they were not warranted in selling. So also the Provincial Conncil felt they were net warranted in compensating. In this extremity, Mr Waite has a second time sought the assistance of the Assembly, and he cannot complain of the absence of friends there any more than he could complain of their absence in the Provincial Council, but we notice that the final result is that a motion by Mr Collins for a committee has been negatived. It is a fair question, however, in consideration of Reuben's enterprise and his unfortunate experiences, whether a Province, the mineral resources of which he directly and indirectly aided in opening, should altogether ignore his title to some sort of recompense. There have been less active prospector Tvho have been more amply rewarded.