NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 622, 23 October 1858, Page 5

NELSON.

The Goldfiblds and the Government. Nearly two years have now elapsed since the existence of gold in considerable quantities has been a recognised fact; but it was too large for the grasp of oar local authorities ; they neglected to avail themselves of the finest opportunity possible for showing themselves equal to their*position ; they neglected that tide which,

" taken at its flood leads on to fortune;" and mow their power has gone from them, and passed into other, and> we trust, more capable hands ; and they are left high and dry, htranded and dismantled hulks, of which people with inquiring minds are already beginning to ask the uho and significance. Indeed, we were rather puzzled the other day to rind a tolerable answer to one of those troublesome questioners, wlio coolly a>ked us what were the duties of our Superintendent and his Executive : " for," said lie, " they have nothing to do with the town, winch has its own elected board; or with the country roads, which are under their own local committees; or with education; or with the administration of justice; or with the police ; or with the sheriff, or the postal service ; and they cannot alter the Land Regulations, or even make a pretence of altering them ; and so how they manage to fill up their time I am at a loas to imagine. We, of course, stood up in defence of our reverend and venerable institutions ; we pointed out the advantage of having a recognised head ; one who, selected for his knowledge of public affairs, his proved ability, and his previous services, would maintain the interests of the province and give weight to its representations or its demands on the General Government ; one whose information we could depend upon, whose leadership we could unhesitatingly follow in all cases of difficulty or public emergency, and who, as " public host," of the proj vince might fittingly do the honors to its guests even should they happen to own the proudest names ofthe English peerage, as had happened more than once already, or be members of its Legislature. Oar questioner, upon this acknowledged hiserror,oneforwhich his imperfect knowledge of our real state must serve as his apology. We were glad at once to revert to the subject of our goldfields, which is part and parcel of our present subject. They are now in the hands of the General Government. Although the bill which was passed for their regulation i 3 not yet in our hands, we know the two most important provisions, the main enactments which give a character to all the rest: the first is an export duty of 2s. 6d. an ounce, assimilating our practice to that of Melbourne and Sydney ; the next a power of making all such arrangements as may be necessary for the full and complete development of the gold fields. What are they at present? A field of hard labor, undue privation, unhealthy exposure, and uncertain gains, to 100 or 200 adventurous diggers; of whom, probably, not 1 in 50 has a single tie or interest in the neighbourhood beyond the few square feet which constitute his temporary claim ; the greater part of whose earnings must be spent in maintaining themselves, when the mere carriage of food amounts to £25 per ton ; who, in case of failure, have no resources to fall back

upon ; no steady .or remunerative demands for labour by which to support themselves until they acquire means and spirits for another venture in the lottery ; whose very uncertainty and occasional prizes have a decided demoral-

izing effect on a great number, producing that

recklessness and wide spread intemperance to which the judge has pointed as the fruitful source of ever-increasing immorality and crime.

If the growth of this branch of industry is to be accompanied by a corresponding lawlessness

and tendency to crime, we shall never ranlc it

amongst the advantages of Nelson; but we hope better things. We have the ever-accu-mulating experience of other countries to assist us ; to teach us what to avoid, what to anticipate, what to aim at; and we shall look forward with no little interest to see what line of conduct will be followed by the General Government ; and trust that the expectations we have a right to form will not be disappointed ; but that, having taken the question out of the hands of our Provincial authorities, it will prove the wisdom of this step by the prudence of its measures, by its decision, and by its activity. — Examiner,