MR. HOLLOWAY AND OUR GOVERNMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 161, 9 July 1874, Page 2

MR. HOLLOWAY AND OUR GOVERNMENT.

To thx Edito- ok thb Evening Mail. Sia—^n common justice to thi Superintendcndent and the Provincial Executive, some little explanation is necessary to set your correspondent "Z " and his informant right. Mr Holloway arrived in town on or about the 26th of June, having come overland from Canterbury, by which means he had the very best opportunity of seeing the interior of thi province for himself and judging accordingly, and if I understood Mr Holloway correctly; his opinion was "tbat it was not the most inviting field for agriculture he had seen," but expressed himself thoroughly satisfied with the vast mineral resources of the province. Mr Holloway therefore presented himself to our "Government after having done the major portion of the province. Woull "Z" or his informant have expected the Superintendent to have trotted him over the aime ground again, assuring him that it was impossible for him to form a correct opinion of the capabilities of tbe country, unless he, the Superintendent, was at his elbow to prompt bim? Having heard much of the mineral wealth at Collingwood and Para Para, Mr Holloway wished to visit these districts. The overland route was suggested, so that he might see the intervening country, aod especially the Takaka Valley; but he said his time was too limited to risk tbe overland journey. The Superintendent therefore made every arrangement for his visit by the Lady Barkly, procuring letters of introduction to persons ia the districts most likely to afford Mr Holloway the information he wanted, and as the time table for that week hardly allowed a clear day in Collingwood the Superintendent arranged thit the Barkly should go for him specially on the Friday, thereby giving him two clear days in the district, in which time h; visited tlie coal mine, the iron deposit at tie Para Par-i, and tome of the principal diggings iv the Aorere and Shite Bivers, &c. Itfturning from Culling wood with Mr Holloway, I had frequent opportunities of cu'iversing with him on the object of his mission, &c, and whilst he spoke in glowing terms of the vast wealth nature had placed at our feet, aad the wonderful future that was in store for the province, he expressed himself in unmistakeable terms abont the apathy of the Nelson people in allowing such treasures to remain undeveloped, but I never heard him make a single complaint about the want of attention paid hiujt by ths Government. I am, &c., M. M. Wbbsi-8.