JUDGE RICHMOND'S CHARGE AT HOKITKIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 86, 11 April 1874, Page 2

JUDGE RICHMOND'S CHARGE AT HOKITKIA.

The following „k\, , __, „. , • -* change. vTus delivered byJ •£« Biobn»; ond at Hokitika last I Week:— I migJ>;\ DQ a ]i owe( j j 0 congratulate y° u ''.pon the concession of the district 0 * a Provincial Constitution. Practically, there may be not much difference between the powers of self-government ,; which you recently enjoyed and those fwhich belong to you. under the new -' order of things. QFhe powers and functions of your Country Chairman were pretty nearly th^se.of a Superintendent. But word& arid names go for a good deal in this and I cam, well understand tha^t the political weight of the district will. Tie Increased by the change. At the. least, the alteration. may be taken to in.dicate the opinion of t those who should "be best able to judge* \ of tho matter that; the settlement of the-.""" Coaßt is now estab lished on a permanent; basis, and had now property and not, mere nomads un/at to be charged witb„ ■

because uninterested in, the permanent welfare of the district. In a social point of view, the permanence of these settlements is a subject of unmixed rejoicing. It is a sorry Bchema of life under which men pass their best yearß in a place to which theyare hound "byno social tie, and in which they are charged with no political obligation. My own connection with this district has now existed eeven years, and I am addressing many whose residence here must have extended close upon ten years. Such periods as these are substantial parts of a man's active life. Our powers of work and enjoyment rarely extend with anything like vigor beyond four such periods, but it is a common thing to see men devoting the whole of this time to a mere provisional existence, selfishly absorbed in the effort to accumulate wealth for future enjoyment at a period when perhaps tho power of enjoyment will be past, and neglecting in the meautime to take up the eujoyments and the duties of social life; remaining without interest in their place of abode, or in the welfare of the people in whose midst they are spending their best days. The creation of the province of" Weßtland should mark the termination arnonyst us of such a provisional state of life, and culls upon all the inhabitants of this district to take upon themselves the full and complete obligations of citizens of New Zealand. In the important matter of conduct in particular, you will no doubt be looked to not to fall below the general standard of the colony. The province which shall allow its larrikins to develop into fullflsdged criminals, will be justly blamed as having neglected those means of prevention and reformation which lie within the power of the legislators. The calendars will be looked to as affording some test of the extent to which the several provinces fulfil their duties in this respect. I make these remarks not at all in the way of reflection on the past, but of suggestion for the future. Indeed, I am not aware that the criminal records of any part of the colony show our colonial youth to be addicted to crime. Our calendars are in a great part filled with tho names of old offeuders— men who did not get their lessons in crime in this part of the world. The coming years may Le expected to exhibit more clearly the effect of colonial training in this respect, and there is great reason to hepe that the result will afford a satisfactory comparison with the state of older countries.