THE PROPOSED REMOVAL OF THE GREY VALLEY WARDEN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1829, 16 June 1874, Page 2

THE PROPOSED REMOVAL OF THE GREY VALLEY WARDEN.

THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY OF NELSON AT AHAURA. Eugene O'Conor, Esq., M.H.R., the Provincial Secretary and Treasurer in the new Executive Council of Nelson, visited Ahaura on Sunday, in the course of an official visit he is ab present making to the Sooth- West Goldtields. In anticipation of Mr O'Conor's visit, meetings have been held at the different centres of population to take steps to bring under his notice matters relating to the wants and requirements of each. The principal object was to ascertain if there was a foundation for the rumor that it was the intentiou of the Government to abolish the office of Warden and Resident Magistiate in the Grey Valley, and remonstrate against carrying such a proposal into effect in case it should be contemplated. Public meetings were held at Ahaura, Half-Ounce, Moonlight Creek, and Nelson Creek, on Saturday evening, at which resolutions were passed protesting against any alteration that would have the effect of depriving the Grey Valley of the undivided services of a Resident Magistrate and Warden. Knowing that Mr O'Conor's time was limited, for it is understood he intends to be present at a meeting of the Executive Council at Nelson, on the 18 (h inst., it was decided that he should be asked to receive the deputations as soon as he arrived at Ahaura. Accordingly the following gentlemen came from Nelson Creek on Sunday morning and remained until Mr | O'Conor's arrival in the evening ; — Messrs F. Davis, T. Jones, A. Ellis, F. O'Reilly, M. Drennan, W. Claughessy, John Stephens, jun., and Roche. The deputation from the Ahaura meeting consisted of— Messra W. S. Staite, J. M. Ollivier, E. Fraser, J. M'Laughlin, J. Kennedy, and Dr Phillips. The deputation were introduced by Mr M. H. Hayden, and Mr Staite proceeded, on behalf of the residents of Ahaura and Totara Flat, to lay such facts before the Provincial Secretary as might be used to dissuade the Government from coming to the conclusion to make any arrangement that would interfere with the duties of the Grey Valley Warden and Resident Magistrate. Mr Staite in the course of his remarks, said that although there was not any positive information to hand that the Warden would be removed, the people were justified in assuming such to be the intention of the Government from the reports of the proceedings of the Provincial Council, and from telegrams from the seat of Government. He trusted that it was but a rumor, for if such an alteration were made it

would be inflicting a serious injury on a large, populous, ." and important district, perhaps the most important in the Province. If the members of the Executive had made up their minds to go in for" retrenchment, they could no doubt effect a considerable saving in other directions, but surely after hearing the unanimous expression of opinion in the Grey Valley, the Government would not adhere to the intention of depriving the Grey Valley of the services of the Wai den, especially when those services were so much required. An examination of the records would show that the j time of the Warden was fully occupied, and it was preposterous to suppose' that one officer could take charge of and do j justice to two extensive districts like the Inangahua and : the Grey Valley. Old residents would remember the disadvantages experienced in the early days by the long interval between the visits of the Warden, and it could hardly be the intention to revert to those times again, with all the attendant loss and inconvenience of the lengthened absence of the "Warden. Those officers were the councillors and advisers of the miners, as well as the judge to settle their differences, and it was not in the Courts even that the work of the Warden was done. There was a deal of routine office work to take up time, and numberless disputes which might lead to expensive litigation were adjusted by the Warden, without coming into Court at all. Mr Staite concluded by urging that the extent and importance of the district required the undivided attention of a Warden, and pointed out that the population was increasing, and that the presence of a Warden was more than ever required. Mr O'Conor enquired if the deputation was only anxious to retain a Warden resident in the district, and on being informed that it was the wish of the inhabitants that the present arrangements should be allowed to continue, he said the Executive were pledged to carry out a policy of retrenchment, and they were determined to' do so. Matters were coming to a climax, and it was now a question whether the revenue should be all paid away in departmental expenses, or whether alterations should be made so as to save th« Province from total obliteration. The Provincial Council left tbe Executive no option; the Estimates were cut down in obedience to the wish of the representatives of the people. The Government was directed to make retrenchment in the expenditure, and the moment it was attempted an outcry was made because this or that public officer was interfered with. The Government expected this outcry, but, nevertheless, the pnblic interest must be looked to, even though individuals should be hardly dealt with. A saving of L2OOO had already been effected, aud a way could be seen to further retrenchments, aud while this was the case the pruning knife would be used. He would assure the deputation ■. that whatever changes might be made, the interests of the Grey Valley would not be ignored, but he was of opinion that one Warden could efficiently perform the duties required in the Inangahua and Grey Valley, and he believed that if Mr Warden Whitefoord were present he would admit as much. It had not yet been determined in what direction the proposed alterations would be made, but although he recognised the importance of the district, personally he was powerless. The duty of finding by personal examination the best means of effecting reductions, without inflicting injustice on any district, was im : posed upon him by his colleagues, and he would perform the duty impartially and to the best of his ability, but" needs must," and reductions would have to be made if the functions of a Government were to be continued. Money must be fonnd for public works ; lives were being lost for want of bridges, travelling about was becoming dangerous for want of repairs to roads, freights were rising and provisions becoming dear from similar causes, and still objections were made when it was proposed to devote a portion of the current revenue to obviate these requirements. With respect to the Warden, he knew the Warden at Reefton had a deal of spare time on his hands ; he was well aware such was also the case with the Warden at Westport. Mr Staite : It is not so here. Mr O'Conor was prepared to admit that the work performed by the Warden in the Grey Valley amounted to nearly as much as that done in the other two districts, and, as he remarked before, it was not yet decided how the reduction would be made. He could not see what was toprevent the Warden resident at Ahaura visiting Reefton once a week as easily as he could visit Cobden, and a visit once a week to either place was sufficient; but the matter would be finally settled before the Superintendent went up to the Assembly for the session. Mr Staitk asked when it was probable the Road Board would have a subsidy from the Government. Mr O'Conor said the Ahaura Board had exceptionally onerous duties imposed upon it in having to keep such a long stretch of the main mad in repair, and it would have to. be placed in funds for that purpose, "but for other work the Board would have to levy taxes. It was part of the terms of their existence that the B >ards should collect rates, and the Ahaura Board was no exception. Any money given to. the Boards by the Government would have to be expended under the direction of the Government. Certaia recalcitrant Boards presumed to set the Government at defiance, saying they would spend Government subsidies in whut manner they chose, but the Government would not give these mutineers a single shilling until they came to a proper sense of their duties. The Ahaura Board was not in this category, but there was no money available yet. When the present Executive took office the books of the late Government showed an apparent bank overdraft of LBOOO, but as a startling financial fact the actual overdraft was L 17,000. According to law the Government was not allowed to exceed L 12,000 as an overdraft, and when this sum was exceeded there was a vacuum in the Provincial chest which must be filled. This was the case at present, and it would take all the current revenue for the next two months to meet departmental expenses, and indeed it would be hard work to tide over the difficulty. It would, therefore, be impossible to give the Boards anything worth speaking about at present. With respect to the unfinished portion of the main road to Reefton, he was very anxious to see it done. A good deal would depend upon the success of the application about to be made to the Assembly for leave to raise a Provincial loan, I

that money could be obtained, a good deal of the current revenue would be released, and those urgently required works could be gone on with. The main road through the Province, to connect Nelson with Greymouth and Westport, was an undertaking which would be of immense benefit to the whole |Province, but it could not be taken in hand unless the loan was succeß&ful. ■-—-*•>.■-■ --■* Mr F. Davis, on behalf of the Nelson Creek deputation, brought the wants of that district before Mr^'Gonor,. T aud re-* raonstrated against "'tne^removal of the Warden.' The track to Owen's Lookout was mentioned, and the offer of Roche and Co. to make it, provided they were . subsidised to the extent of LIOO, wm^» alluded to. Mr O'Conor said he would take the opinion of Mr Dobson on the matter. Numerous other subjects were brought under Mr. O'Conor's notice, and after an interview of nearly two hours the deputation thanked Mr O'Condr and withdrew. : ■■■■ ."■:, .• .v .• ■:■:.:.' :.rij!\. PUBLIC MEETING • AT ' AHAURA. The most numerously attended meeting held at Ahaura for. years it66k place at Ollivier's Star Hotel, To n' the evening of Saturday, 13th instant. The object was to take action on the rumored intention of the Government with respect !to the office of Warden of the Grey Valley. Long before the appointed, time the large room of the hotel was filled with, residents from all parts of the .district, and such was the interest evinced that some of those present came from the Ikamatua and from a greater distance: ■■.', The chair was taken by Dr Phillips, who explained the objects of the meeting, and asked for an attentive hearing for the speakers. Mr W. S. Siaite, in a really able speech, proposed the follpwing resolution: — " That this meeting haying heard! with concern the implied intention o.f the Nelson Government to abolish" the' office of Warden in the, Grey Valley,. or-tp amalgamate the Grey Valley .r ; with, .another Warden's, district; respectfully protests against any alteration being made which may have the effect of depriving the residents of the Grey Valley of the undivided services of a Warden." .*--*. The resolution was seconded by Mr W, * H. Jones,' and carried unanimously. Mr R. M'Neill moved/ and Mr John Reid seconded— V That a .'' copy of the foregoing resolution be 1 forwarded to the proper quarter, and that, if necessary, a memorial be prepared." — Carried unanimously. Mr J. Craig, : ol^Bushholme, moved, and Mr David JEM^iiat seconded — "That a deputation fromhthis meeting be appointed to wait ""upon the Provincial Secretary on behalf of the-inhUbi^fiU to lay before him the wants- and requirements of the district. "^Carried. The meeting was; addressed. by Messrs Staite, Jones, Jellie. Reid,' : Hamilton, Craig, and others. . : .-,'. ', The deputation appointed met Mr O'Conor on Sunday, and presented to him copies of the foregoing "resolutions. '