The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, August 31, 1864.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 140, 31 August 1864, Page 2

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, August 31, 1864.

We were unable in our last to conclude the subject we took up of the necessity of the goldfields reconciling themselves to a reducti nin their management. In making the remarks we did we only conveyed an opinion current throughout the district that red tapeism and the circumlocution system of government had marred our prosperity at a time when it was green and nourishing. We pointed out.that the goldficl Is, and especially this district were debited with large sums paid by the Government on their account to officers; that wc were deemed ungrateful in asking for more, because we had five Wardens Courts in the district, an expensive escort and police force, besides sundry other officials In representing the evils of over-doing the thing in the way of giving us law and supervision in abundance, and beyond our actual requirements, we certainly never advocated doing away with the Wardens Courts. A reduction has to be made in the estimates to meet the revenue, and we have to share in the effects of that reduction. The question is whether we should not assist the Government by suggestions, which if carried out will accomplish the object in view, and yet not materially retard the progress of the goldfields. In doing this we accomplish a benefit also. No one will gainsay that since the accession of the present Ministry to power, this district has received more attention than from the Dick Ministry, who were eternally promising something, and yet did nothing. The Paterson Ministry have not promised, but they have acted, and done something for us, though it be little, in the right direction. We cannot have our cake and eat it. We cannot expect that if we receive our share of the revenue in the shape of gentlemen in the civil service, also to have the same money spent in opening up the country by roads, &c. These gentlemen are very generally of an amiable : aspect, and no doubt much to be admired ; but we may, however, pay too dear for our whistle. We are certain we shall accomplish the end desired by the inhabitants of this district, namely, a fair distribution and return of the revenue derived from it iu the shape of reproductive works. It would, on the other hand, be much easier to growl, and sow seeds of discontent at any attempted reductions. A good deal of the sensational might be done in this way, but as we have always taken what we conceive to be a right position in regard to the public servants stationed amongst ':s, we shall not now depart from that policy. We trust, however, in a future issue to finish our subject and stale i where oth r retrenchments can be made, and 1 to show how the saving thus effected can I lie vmpi'»yc'd with benefit and prufit to all J elates and Ue country at iaige.