THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1718, 5 February 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1874.

Thk Progress Committee and the Borough Council deserve much credit for the spirited manner iv which they have acted with respect to the engagement of Mr Moriarty to inspect and report upon the river Grey and the best means of improving the port. The same public spirit has also been shown by the two local Coal Companies in undertaking each to bear one-third of the cost. ,As the matter now stands, the Corporation of Greymouth have for a paltry expenditure of £116 13s 4d, secured the services of an engineer who pecupies a very high rank in his prcfession, and who possesses special qualifications for the work to be entrusted to him. There is a good old proverb, not yet grown musty, that "Heaven helps those who help themselves," and we are certain that the action just taken will be productive of good. Whether the General Government do or do not approve of the introduction <of an engineer from another Colony, the fact that, the inhabitants have taken upon themselves the whole cost of employing him will show ihat they are thoroughly in earnest And earnestness of this practical character is never thrown away. It is satisfactory to be able to add that there is no doubt that his Honor the Superintendent of Nelson will ask the Council to contribute to the expense incurred by the employment of Mr Moriarty. During the discussions that took place both in the Progress Committee and the special meeting of the Borough Counail, doubt was expressed that the General Government might t resent the action taken in this matter in having sought outside advice. This ia a mere bugbear ; the Government are not likely to' do anything so stupid even if the whole engineering staff took umbrage. The whole question of constructing permanent harbar works here rests not with the Government, but with Parliament, and if we can show a good case, the better we make it the more chance is there of what is required. We are confident that the Premier will encourage in every possible way those public works which will have the effect of developing the coal-fields of the Colony, and that so far from taking offence at the proceedings taken by the local community he will view them with satisfaction, recognising them as a healthy sign of public spirit. Everyone knows what active steps were taken by the Nelson " Inland Communication Committee " last year, and how they importuned the Government upon the subject of the Nelson and Brunner railway. How did Mr Yogel view this activity and perseverance ? In his financial statement delivered last session appears the following passage :— " During the recess, Ministers have had interviews and much correspondence with gentlemen desiroua of seeing the railway extended from Foxhill to the Brunner. It was very pleasing to the Government to observe the spirit of enterprise displayed by the inhabitants of Nelson in their desire to obtain thisraitivay." . We have no doubt that the Government will also view in the same light "the spirit of enterprise" displayed by this community in their desire to improve the port of Greymouth.. „■;" But^the fact that the engagement of Mr Moriarty is absolutely made by the Borough Council entirely divests the matter of anything that could be deemed irregular interference. Bylaw the Corporation is charged with the duty of looking- atter the port and the harbor, so far as the boundaries of the town go, and they haveah undoubted right to employ whomsoever they think fit. Up to the present there is ho evidence that the General Government have any defined scheme for improving the harbor entrance, although it is well known that plans have, been made with regard to Westport. It is true that the intention has been expressed that the Government will proceed with- the harbor works at Greymouth as speedily as possible, but this must be interpreted—so far as any decided plan is concerned — to relate .only to those works that, are considered to be necessary for the railway and the shipment of coal. Besides/ the vote of .£20,000 granted last yeat, cannot possibly do more than complete the works under construction, and ia further appropriation will be required next session for any further extension. The possesion of a thorough report frop an engineer ot high reputation cannot but help very greatly to strengthen the hands, both of the representative of the district and of the Goverrimßnt in asking Parliament for the necessary funds.