THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1912, 22 September 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1874.

We are not quite certain that it is not necessary to make an apology to our readers, before referring to the , Government of Nelson in connection with any matter relating to the Grey division of that Province. The ! persons who now have control of the | Treasury of Nelson have treated the all but unanimously-expressed wishes of the inhabitants of the Grey Valley with such contemptuous insolence that any allusion to the Government, in the presence of respectable men, has come to be regarded in the light of a personal insult. The action of the Nelson Executive, or of the Provincial Secretary, who, to the humiliation, be it said, of the other members of the Government, is in reality the Executive, in dealing with the Gold-fields Wardens shows an utter disregard of the interests or opinions of the residents of the district, and the history of the Grey Valley Local Revenues Board since its induction discloses an exhibition of studied negligence in the performance of its functions, such as we may venture to assert no other Government, but one having Mr O'Oonor at its head, would dare be guilty of. That the Act calling these Local Boards into existence is nothing but an abortion is admitted on all sides, and that it was passed merely as a subterfuge to enable the then Government to get out of an awkward difficulty on the eve of what promised to be a hotly-contested election, there is now no doubt, but it remained for the ruling spirit of the present Government to administer it in such a manner, that in his hands it has become a fearfully and wonderfully worked engine by means of which to endeavor to bring recalcitrant electors to their senses. The Grey Valley was promised in a certain quarter at the termination of the late election for the Superintendency, that it would yet be made to suffer for the part it took in bringing about the result of that contest, and it seems as if the promise is in a fair way to be fulfilled. By one of those strokes of fortune, good or bad as the case may be, which are continually taking place, the detected canclidatefor the Superintendent's office found himself one morning, to his great astonishment no doubt, in a posifciox* to dictate to the Superintendent himself, and the position has been made the most of with a vengeance. We are not aware if the Provincial Secretary of Nelson found it incumbent on his conscience to make a promise to any other district similar to that given to the Grey Valley, but if ouch should have been the case, so much the worse for the other district, if it fco be treated as the Valley is at present. The state of the roads and tracks on the Grey Valley Gold-fields, and of the portions of the main road from Grey mouth to Reef ton which passes through those gold-fields, shows how well the promise above alluded to has been kept. An examination of the means taken to bring about this state of affairs leads to a consideration of the present condition of the Grey Valley Road Board as it is termed. Shortly after the Board was elected the main road was seriously damaged by a heavy flood, and with characteristic promptitude when anything troublesome has to be got rid of, Mr O'Conor generously handed over the maintenance of the road to the Board, but, again characteristically, neglected to provide the means to enable the Board to fulfil the responsibility he imposed upon it. Since then the action of the Board has been a series of applications to the Government for money, and i rotestations that it cannot carry out the objects for which it was intended unless funds were provided. T he Government suggested [the i levying a rate, but the Board refused to tax the few property holders in the Grey Valley to maintain a work which chiefly benefited the merchants of Greymoutli and the residents of the Inangahua. Tenders were called for keeping the main road in repair, but when the contracts were let it was found the Government could not or would not advance the money to pay the contractors, and the members of the Board were threatened with personal responsibility. The Board, driven into a corner at last, by the odium and abuse heaped upon it, from the outside, by those who it now turns out were unacquainted with I its real position, and by the continued rej fusals of the Government to fulfil the promises made to it, threatened to resign in a body if the Government did not come to the rescue. To this ultimatum the Government, by Mr Rout, the non-official member of the Executive, replied evasively, as usual, in the following terms : — "I have the houor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, and in reply have to express the regret of the Provincial Government that the Ahaura Local Revenues Board declines to discharge the duties devolving upon the Board, by refusing to take charge of the district roads, and to avail themselves of means provided by law, viz., the levying of rates to pay their officers, and supplement the sums it may be in the power of the Government to place at the Board's disposal. "I hope that the Board will recognise that the first duty of the Government is to see that the vote for the maintenance of roads and bridges is really expended for that purpose, and that the Govern-

nvsnt are unable to appropriate the vote to any other object, and I would therefore ask the Board to re-consider the decision they have arrived at, as the Government are assured that real benefit would accrue to the Grey district, and the Provincs generally, by the Board continuing in office, under the conditions laid down by the Government. " Before the question of your application for a further sum to pay off existing i liabilities can be dealt with, it will be necessary that you f urnis^-fche Government with full particulars of receipts and expenditure to date." In addition to the advice given above as to the levying of a rate, the Government sent down one of the responsible officers of the Province to supervise the expenditure of the Board's revenues, and this last straw has, it appears, broken the camel's back. The following communication from the Chairman of the Board to the Government is in reply to the letter of Mr Rout, and it is worthy of attention as the actual state of affairs is plainly stated and faithfully set forth in it. It is addressed to the Superintendent, and dated 21st September, and, after acknowledging the receipt of the letter from the Government goes on as follows : — " When the Board accepted the responsibility of keeping the main line of road in repair it was on no expressed conditions. The Board is fully competent, as it has been always willing, to carry out its functions, but feeling itself placed in a false position by acts of the Provincial Government, they are not prepared to give up what of right belongs to the electors of the Grey Valley to demand, namely the expenditure of funds and the purposes thereof ; from whatever source derived. Having been elected by the people to look after their interests in these respects, it is to them the Board is responsible, and therefore we decline to submit to any dictation from without. "It is to be bourne in mind that the members of the Board entered upon the duties under the impression that an act of the Provincial Council of Nelson would secure to the Board the varieties of certain revenues dirivable from different sources to be laid out in works of public retility, aud on the faith of such revenue being forthcoming work was commenced in the different districts. It is to be remembered, also, that the Clause No. 22, in Local Revenues Act, 1873, granting such revenue, was hastily and without note of warning repealed— headless of any contracts or works — having been undertaken by the Board on the faith of such revenues being handed over. Looking back upon that transaction and takiug into consideration the present attempt to.restrain the action of the Board, one is tempted to the belief that it is but another step towards utter humiliation and the bringing of such bodies into shear contempt and ridicule. " From its election the Board has been in a crippled condition for want of funds. The main road was landed over to it at a period of flood when the entire line was in a state of wreck, debts were incurred through having to repair the extensive damage from which the Board has not been relieved, although appeals have been made for funds. These explanations carry on the face of them reasons why recourse was not had to the rating powers of the Board, the revenue from which, if collected, would be swallowed up by claims incurred, as before stated, in maintaining the main road, while the residents of the outlying districts would be made to contribute towards a work that did not benefit them. The impression prevails that the Provincial Government of Nelson have not, taking into consideration the revenue derived from the Grey Valley, paid that attention to its requirements which it merits, and its great importance demands. " With a lively sense of these matters there is, I fear, but little hope that the Ahaura Local Revenues Board will fulfil the wish expressed as to a re-considera-tion of their decision. " The Secretary of the Board has been instructed to prepare and forward to your Honor full and correct particulars of receipts, expenditure, and liabilities up to the 19th irstant, dating from the induction of the Board." The state of the case is here carefully set out in a manly and straightforward manner, and we will await with interest the result of this manifesto of the Board through its Chairman. If the terms of the Board are not assented to by the date of the next meeting' on the 29th September, the members now remaining in office will carry out their intention of resigning 1 , and then the Government will have to assume the responsibility which properly belongs to it, and which it should never have shirked, namely, the keeping in good order and open for traffic the principal means of communication through the Province.