SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1869.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 172, 24 April 1869, Page 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1869.

“Wool sales depressed ; 2d per pound lower since November !” This brief sentence from the English telegrams requires little comment from us to convince our fellow colonists of the importance—nay, the absolute necessity— of establishing a local market for this great staple of Colonial produce. Why are capitalists so slow to appreciate the developement of local industry as a real source l of wealth ? Is it not time we left off buying dear clothing, and selling cheap wool'l While mutton increases faster than tie

demand, cheap as meat is even now, there are plenty of folks who can scarcely get the means of paying their butcher’s bills ! Why is this 1 Because the capital which ought to employ our working population, and create fixed centres of industry, is too frequently squandered on luxuries from distant lands.

For a year or more the fate of Marlborough —robbed and plundered by her sister Provinces, under Colonial sanction, and who have at the same time missed no opportunity of pointing the finger of scorn at her —has been the subject of anxious solicitude and suspense to every well-wisher of the Province. Knowing the difficulties that beset her, the public looked forward to the last meeting of the Assembly to bring at least a termination to this feeling of incertitude. We need not stay to consider how disappointed we were at the barren result of the Session, and the conduct of our Member, who postponed any explanation as to public affairs until the end of January, when we became little wiser-, beyond the information that his vote had been the salvation of the Stafford Government, our inveterate enemies, and he had received “ almost a promise” of some money. At the meeting which he then held he intimated however that he purposed holding a Session of the Provincial Council _ shortly, when he would submit a policy, and indicate some scheme of reform and retrenchment more suited to our reduced circumstances. Since then we have continued waiting with wondrous patience to see what Mr. Eyes’ scheme of economical Government was to be, in lieu of the present Provincial one. Week by week we have scrutinised his declared organ, but still he makes no sign, beyond giving a long notice calling the Council together for the 4th of May, but what is to be done there remains a profound mystery known only t) hi nself. although the time is so close at hand ! Can it be that matt n-s have been so arranged with his new triends taat he feels sure he can carry any policy he thinks fit, without prior ventilation 1 Or, is it that his chief has not yet given his orders ! On the occasion referred to, he informed us that his duties were so few and simple, that he lacked occupation, and so he has proved it, or else how could he be spared away from the Province by the month together 1 Has he any policy 1 It seems open to very great doubt, otherwise he could not so far ignore the people. Our position is most serious and anomalous. Firmly held in the grasp of the General Government by our impecunious condition, at present resulting from its advance of funds upon the security of our Land Revenue, we cannot move. Our position in the future is alike precarious. Why is the proposed reform and retrenchment scheme —if any is formed —not allowed to transpire, that the people, after considering how tar it will meet their views, may through their memb.ers, be prepared to act in the Council, when it does meet 1

It lias been said that tbe people were anxious to be placed under the General Government control—to be governed from the other side the water, in preference to a central power in our own Province. We should like to know where these people are, who want the Government far enough off. We know of a few disappointed politicians, who because they were not allowed to monopolise everything, divided their own districts against themselves; who want —not Road Districts—but so-called Counties, differing in no way from the Provinces but in size. But do these represent the opinions of the mass of the people? We think not. What anxious place-hunters at an extreme end of the Province have been seeking of late is already more than accomplished ! We are practically without any Government, the Executive are inactive—nay even its head, our Superintendent, whose salary is guaranteed by the Colonial Ministry—might almost be said to live away from us, leaving here not even the shadow of a Government “in his shoes.” In the meantime, our roads and bridges are fast hastening to decay, some of which are already impassable, and winter approaching; while our Land Revenue, instead of being devoted its legitimate purpose, is being swallowed up in the payment of official salaries !