THE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE AND THE NELSON SOUTH-WEST GOLDFIELDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 259, 31 October 1874, Page 4

THE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE AND THE NELSON SOUTH-WEST GOLDFIELDS.

I' j To the Editor op the 'Evening Mail.' Sib—l am glad to see that (he Nel--100 reaidents have at length discovered that they are "dissatisfied with the present administration of the affairs of the Province." There may be some in Nelson, who lamenting great depression, hailed the advent of the present Provincial Secretary with strong hopes of better timeß. He was to grease the government wheels, to lop off useless branches, reduce expenditure, and generally to work reforms socb as no one else living could. I was certainly surprised at the measure of support accorded to him in Neisdh where he had already, I •hoald have thought, "Earned a name whereat the world grew To jpolot a moral or adorn a tale." Bat the Nelsonite& forget and forgive, therein differing from tbe Provincial Secretary, « I shall presently show. Notably is this difference shown in the one-sided treatment tbe Grey Yaljey v receiving at tbe hands of the Executive, of which tbe Provincial Secretary is the principal ornament; he being the. bead, tail, and centre-piece of iL and who has at any rate force enough 'ov "mind and character to supply ttftrse members of it who have .none at all. Wiadrai'Waft certainly displayed by

the Provincial Secretary in selecting some (at any rate) of bia Executive; for whom he could act, thiok, talk, and travel. The Grey Valley I say is suffering, and why not? Did we not dare (almost to a man) to say to Mr O'Coaor, when be was running for the So perin tendency, that we would not have him at any price ? And if he did then threaten veogeance against us, he is only keeping his word and indulging in a very common sentiment. We certainly feel grateful to the Superintendent whom we did support; for immediately afterwards placing us at the disposal of his opponent whom we rejected. But I wiah Nelson to understand 1 that the Provincial Secretary's position with us, bad as it was before, is clearly defined, and for his sake I trust be will never again require even as many votes from us he had before. The Provincial Secretary distinctly promised the Grey. Valley a reeideat warded. He has left us without one, but he may fill the gap shortly, as has already been done in the case of the Ahaure clerk, Mr Greenwood, a most efficient officer, who was discharged on tbe plea of retrenchment, but whose place is already filled. Mr. Caleb Wbiiefoord, a most necessary and deservedly respected warden, in charge of "the fifth Court in the colony as far as revenue is concerned/ has been dealt with very summarily. Some assert that tbe - Provincial Secretary entertained for this gentleman " A lodged hate and certain loathing." Be this as it may, the Provincial Secretary and bis Executive, in spite of deputations, respectful protests, and enormous efforts throughout ihe Southwest Goldfieids, have sent him about his business, and it will hardly be believed in Neleon, that while clerks, constables, and other officials have always received some compensation, "it has been expressly refused to Mr Whitefoord. Mr. Greenwood, the clerk^ received two months pay, but Mr Whitefoord, the Magistrate, of whom it might fairly be asked, *' Why what evil has he done ?" will have to compel tbe Council by its sense of justice, or the province by its expensive courts of law, to do him common justice. Retrenchment has been tbe specious plea here also, but, while the administration of justice is made a farce, the KeeftOQ Warden has a circuit of about 150 miles, and has to be in his saddle twenty-five days out of thirty, and his horse hire and allowances will come to at least £400 a year. And now, sir, look at the £50,000 vote for inland coast communication. The Reeftoo people—and they are the proper judge A —are of opinion that the road from Greymouth, whence they get most of their supplies, should be kept in repair, and I imagine half of the money was intended for this purpose, but I am informed that the Buller road, for which tenders are long since called, will absorb the whole of it, and thus tbe Grey Valley will have still another blow for not worshipping the seemingly omnipotent (but for how long ?) Provincial Secretary. Look again at the Road Boards, which on these goldfieids are wellconstituted bodies enjoying public confidence. They have received auch treatment that tbe only wonder ia they have not long ago resigned. Oiher rods are, I am told, being pickled by the Provincial Secretary for the Valley, but let him: do his level wjorst and he will yet find that he haa only « scotched the snake, not killed it." These, Sir, are the views entertained by myself, and, I can speak authoritatively, by nearly every resident on theae goldfieids, and we appeal to every thinking member o{ the Provincial Council to step in and assert his prerogative as a guardian of the common weal. I beg space in your columns for this somewhat lengthy letter, as I think these matters should be made public, and as I have observed that you tried to avert some of th 9 evils with which we were threatened, and which have since been carried out. I am, &c. Elector. Nelson South-west Goldfieide, 21st October, 1874.