MR. CURTIS AT REEFTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 53, 1 March 1872, Page 2

MR. CURTIS AT REEFTON.

His Honor the Superintendent, who returned from the West Coast iv the Kennedy yesterday, held a- meeting at Reefton last week, at which some 300 persons were present. His Honor (says the Westport Times) said that he fully recognised the importance of the Inangahua district, for on all sides he saw promise of future greatness, both in its mineral and agricultural resources, which were second to none in the colony. He hoped that the inhabitants would, not entirely depend upon the Government for everythiug. The Provincial Government could not do much with their present curtailed revenue. He desired to see the Government assisting not obstructing, and the people themselves must put their shoulders to the wheel. It had been stated in the newspapers and elsewhere that while the great bulk of the revenue was derived from the goldfields the settled districts enjoyed the greater share of the expenditure. In reply he informed the meeting that while £190,000 had been received from the goldfields £260,000 had been expended, not in expensive dray roads, but in tracks. He allowed that money had been thrown away by making roads in improper places, but as against that it should be remembered that many of those roads were made on the spur of the moment. The Provincial management was contrasted with the management of Westland, but the contrast would no doubt prove favorable to Nelson, since so large a portion of Westland wished to be annexed to Nelson, As to placing the goldfields under General Government management, it should be considered that at present they had a voice in the management of their affairs through their members in the Provincial Council, but under the General Government they would have none, be handed over entirely to officials and red tape, and so far from having all the reveuuegrc-spect in public works it would

be eaten up by the officials with whom they would be overrun. The General Assembly could not spare the time to discuss or cuter into details as to expenditure, and they would find themselves out of the frying-pan into the fire. He desired to see Road Boards and Municipalities for locr.l management without Lord Mayors and the other and expensive concomitan ts of some munici palities. The requirement was for Local Boards of Works, such as that in existence at Nelson, which was both inexpensive and effective. He saw many difficulties in establishing Road Boards on the goldfields particularly in the way of taxation, recognising that miners were already heavily aud especially taxed. He disapproved of Mining Boards as calculated to increase the confusion which already prevailed owing to the diversity of mining regulations which were already in force. He disapproved of the protective laws which had been passed last session; he could not agree with protection to farmers when that meant raising the cost of bread throughout the land. He hoped to hear an unfettered opiuiou from the miners he came thero to meet ; and although, no doubt, there would be points of difference between them, he hoped they would agree upon important matters. At any rate be came to see and learn, with (be view of being guided afterwards by what came within his observation.

A number of questions were then put to Mr. Curtis by those present, after which, Mr. Drury proposed a vote of confidence in the Superintendent, which was withdrawn at his Honor's desire.

Mr. Ckampton then proposed, " That this meeting is of opinion that his Honor the Superintendent deserves the thanks of the miners aud others of this district for his attendance here this evening, as also for the very satisfactory statement of his views as to the future adraiuistratiou of the Provincial Executive of the goldfields," which was carried unanimously.