The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5011, 3 February 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1885.

Late news regarding the movements of the Native Minister would tend to influence s belief that Mr Ballance has no intention of visiting the Thames, This is to be regretted, as several matters demanding a Member's.'personal investigation are open, and are likely to remain so until he comes to settle them. It is as useless as, needless to once more issue vain regrets over the neglect luffered by the Thames district in the past, but we certainly' are imbued with the belief that this long-followed system cannot aontinue, like Tennyson's brook, to

- " Flow on for ever." Ministerial visits, although not guarantees of succeeding prosperty or even promises of favors to be showered on the districts granted them, are likely to give those whose duty it is to attend to the wants of Ihe people an idea of general requirements, and more clearly indicate in which path duty lies. When the fortunes of the Thames were at a high ebb little temptation was required to secure a Ministerial visit; when r otbing was asked in return for the benefit the country generally was deriving from the immense wealth the district produced, various members of the respective Governments holding power were pleased to include ours in the list cf places to be inspected ; and before we bad any occasion to supplicate for what should be proffered to us, the Thames was always an item in a Northern Ministerial trip. Now things, although a little changed, completely alter the position of affairs. A Minister must be urged and besought to look at us ; all the force capable of being brought to bear by the 1 member for the district, and from any other source available, must be used, and even then a hesitancy on the part of the visitor is observe^. We cannot altogether charge the Native, or any other Minister of the present Cabinet with dereliction of duty in not visiting us, but there cannot be the least particle of doubt in tho mind of any thoughtful person that the Thames is;a district much neglected by Governments, and there is more than a reason, able probability that were our prosperity now what it hai been in the past—were our means of revenue as fruitful as they have been—more care and attention would be bestowed on is, and it would not be chronicled that a Minister had;passed us by while visiting our next door neighbor.