THE PELORUS GUARDIAN FRIDAY, MARC f 21, 1889. REPRESENTATION.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 17, 21 March 1890, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN FRIDAY, MARC f 21, 1889. REPRESENTATION.

Representation is the fundamental basis on which every true Government should rest, and so long as it is arranged on principles of equity and justice to the people there will be very little dissatisfaction, but when once those grand old maxims are transgressed trouble is sure to commence, and it is difficult to see where it will end. This colony, for many years, has suffered from over legislation, and hasty, ill-advised Acts are often placed on our statute book, only to be amended or repealed the following session. When the cry for retrenchment became chronic in 1887 a commission was appointed to divide the colony into electoral districts for the apportionment of the representation of the people on a certain basis, and in the same year an amendment was passed, reducing the number of members who constituted the House of Assembly from ninety-one to seventyi'our—a more pernicious, short-sighted measure than this has never been introduced within the four walls of Parliament, and will always remain as a black endorsement on the political character of each member who had professed to champion the views of a democratic constituency. This feeling seems to have been awakened after reflection, and in September, 1889, we had the fierce conflict over the proper quota to be calculated under various conditions, and another Amendment Act was passed where, in subsection 5, we find this pregnant sentence “ In forming the several districts due consideration must be given to the present boundaries of electoral districts, to community of interest , facilities of communication, and topographical features.” Now, in those words, lie the serious responsibility of the commissioners, and it behoves them to give their most careful consideration to all these important relations when adjusting the new boundaries, so as not to practically disfranchise a great portion of any constituency. The Waimea-Picton electorate, which includes the northern portion of Marlborough, then jumps over Nelson to embraces Stoke and Richmond was bad enough, but if there is any truth in what dame rumour shadows forth that the last named places are to be severed from P. amalgamated with Nelson, and we are tp be absorbed in the Motqeka electorate, a more absurd, ridiculous, and ludicrous attempt tp blend community of interest, facilities of communication, with study of topographical features, has never been learfi pf in the world, and every legiti-

mate constitutional means must be used by those interested to prevent this unique partnership being registered. The rational, practical, and common sense interpretation of the sentence quoted would making Nelson City, or even a line from the Maungatapu Range to Wangamoa Harbour our western boundary, then take all the to join in with the Wairau, whose interests are identical with ours, whose success means our welfare, and whose extended trade means our prosperity.

As showing the interest in what electoral boundaries the commissioners may ultimately fix to include this portion of Waimea-Picton constituency is wide-spread, a meeting of delegates from all the local bodies was called for "Wednesday, the 26th inst., to discuss the position. Then, for better reasons, it was resolved to form a deputation and wait on the Commissioners in Wellington; but since that idea was formulated it appears those gentlemen have refused to receive any deputation, but will consider any suggestion made in writing. We would suggest that when the County Council meet on Monday next an expression of opinion be obtained from them on this very important matter, and the delegates meet in Blenheim afterwards on the same day to record their opinion, so that no precious time should be wasted, or a decision arrived at by the Commissioners, while we are only talking about it among ourselves.

OUR GOLD DEPOSITS.

Watching the progress of events is not a position creditable or sufficient for any community to adopt if they wish to keep pace with other districts in their onward march. They must be doing their best continually to advance the general welfare by letting no means of advancement escape their notice, and showing the people of the colony what advantages they can offer for settlement in the neighbourhood. Nearly twentyseven years have come and gone since the first excitement occurred in the Pelorus over a gold discovery in the Wakamarina, where it was amply proved heavy deposits of the precious metal had, through some mysterious agency, been scattered almost broadcast in the river, as the 30,000 ounces secured within a few months clearly proved. But suddenly quite an apathy in mining matters seemed to envelope the whole district, and whatever hidden treasures existed have simply laid dormant from that time until the small rush set in at Mahakipawa, and gradually the persistent working of our plucky diggers in that vicinity have incontestably proved that even our alluvial diggings are yet in their infancy. Our Government geologists say that we have over 200 square miles of auriferous country, and by looking at the map we find the belt is all on the north side of the Wairau River. Good patches of the precious metal have been found from Mount Patriarch downward, but right alongside our doors in the Kaituna —a valley, with its tributaries, containing about 10,000 acres of level land that, if payable, would provide work for a large population. Practically nothing in the way of systematic prospecting has ever been done. Flat Creek, Parnell's Valley, and Long Valley, are positively known to be auriferous, as both fine and coarse gold have at different times been found in each place, and still no test is attempted in the main valley; while every reasonable supposition would lead us to think that country lying right between the Wakamarina and Cullen’s Creek must have some rich deposits. Now, could not some satisfactory arrangements be made with tbe Government to rent a diamond drill, and thus get a fair test of this maiden ground ? Gold is not the only mineral which pays to work, if you can find a sufficient quantity, and who knows what may be discovered by following the old Scriptural exhortation “Seek and ye shall find”? In any case it is our duty to make known the resources of the district by energetic actions, and the Government would only be doing partial justice to our raining community if they provided the loan of a drill without any charge whatever.