West Coast Times.

West Coast Times, Issue 136, 24 February 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1866.

Two schemes for the future Government of Westland are now before the public. The same cardinal idea lies at the base of each of them. It is the appropriation to local purposes of the local revenue of the district, and the expenditure of it under local control, by a responsible officer of Government.

The plan proposed by the Canterbury "Press aims at securing the permanent connection of the Eustern and Western divisions of tho province. It is based upon the principle of,. concession, in order to prevent the dismemberment of Canterbury. The project of Separation is offensive to Christchurch. It is acknowledged, that it would lessen tho political prestige of the province, and detract from its' weight in the Councils of the colony. It is intelligible, that it would be a wound inflicted on the pride of our neighbours — hitherto our masters —on the other side of " the intervening range." One phase of the political struggle before \is is the contest of the Provinces for supremacy. Tho West Coast Goldfields have assumed a foremost rank in the list of tho mining districts of the Australins. They yield a return unequalled in proportion to their population. They have left tho once famous Otago diggings far in tho backgrpunci. And Christchurch.* politicians' are unwilling to entertain tho idea of Separation. In these facts lies the strength of our cause as against the policy hitherto pursued towards the, district by the Canterbury Government. Mr Prosser's viows, on tho other hand, are adverse to the continuance of any political connection with Christchurch. His experience, gained during his attendance in Council, appears to havo led him to a firm conviction that no substantial justice can be hoped for under any arrangement which would preserve to the Provincial Legislature the practical control of Westland finances. Ho maintains that tho cystom of nominal selfgovernment proposed by the " Press" to be established here, under the dominating influence of Christchurch, will bo nothing more than a delusion and a snare. Granted that full power were given to some representative council of advice or control, to dispose of the moneys voted in globo for the district by the Provincial Legislature, it must still be borne in mind that the amount of that vote would always be a mattor for the majority of the Provincial Couucil to determine ; that in apportioning the Westlmd share of the revenue very different views would operate to those which prevail on this side of the | range ; and that the responsibility of the local administrative officer or Goldfields Secretary would be a responsibility, not to a body of Westland representatives, but to a legislature in which tho vast preponderance of representation would belong to inteiesta that have hitherto proved themselves alien to those of tho West Coast. Mr Prosser, so far as we^ understand, recommends tho district to* ngitato for the establishment of some system analogous to that proposed by tho " Press," in some of its essential features, but with this important difference that it should be separated from the political organism of the Canterbury Government, and attaohed to that of the gencial colonial administration. Under such "a scheme Westland would have a resident responsible officer, who would be a kind of Deputy Governor, or nominated Superintendent, holding control, with the assistance und advice of a Council, — either elected or nominated as "the case might be — over the expenditure of the whole of the revenue proper of the district. There is a wider difference I etween the two schemes than may appear on tho surface. 'No administrator appointed by the General Government to the charge of Westland affairs, could be a responsible member of the Exeoutive, in the sense suggested by the Canterbury " Press." The General Assembly may agree to the appointment of a 1 Goldfields Minister, holding charge of a portfolio — but such a member of the Government coiUd not be a Minister for * th<? West Gbutwbwy digging*

only, or be made a resident officer in Westland. Such a local administrator must necessarily be a subordinate officer of the Executive Government, responsible not directly to the colonial parliament for his conduct of affairs* on tho West Coast, but only through his ministerial chief, over whose appointment or removal from office the district with its one representative in the Assembly could scarcely hope to exercise the slightest appreciable influence.

There are sufficient diversities therefore between the two plans for the administration of Westland now before the public, to elicit a fair and open expression of public opinion. There are arguments to bo urged in favor of eacli plan, and there are objections to be urged ngainst each. Bu , one idea underlies them both, and that is the enjoyment by Westland of its owu revenues and their expenditure by its own will. It is for the public to consider by which scheme that end can be the best and the most promptly gained. We are satisfied that eithor would prove a vast boon to the community, and wo confess honestly that wo only M'ait for some conclusive demonstration of public opinion in favor of one or the other, to throw the whole weight of our influence and advocacy into the scale. Let tho people havo a tangible object in view, and there will be some encouragement in helping them to realise ir. For our own part, we shall be prepared to sacrifice altogether our own predilections, and bend our views to the will of the majority, — not in any spirit of subserviency to a dominant public opinion, but from a deep conviction that any scheme likely to realiso the great cardinal point of the self-enjoyment and self-control of our own finances, will practically realiso all the results that the district requires, and that this is not the moment when the people can afford to indulge in any differences as to details. In a spirit almost of hopelessness one idea after another has been taken up and submitted to the public for its approval. But there has been the same utter and protracted absence of a response. If the people s will only frame a purpose and adopt a fixed plan of action — be it in our judgment the best, the second best, or the third best,— we will do our utmost to further it. Whether it be based upon the principle of a continued connection with Canterbury or not, is a matter of merly secondary moment.

The Bruce arrived from Hokitika yesterday, bringing upwards of 6000 o/,s. of gold, and shortly afterwards again left tho harbour on her return, carrying with her nearly a hundrod passengers j tho permission of the Customhouse authorities to that effect boing givon in consideration of her taking no cargo. Uho intelligence wo have received by the Bruce from tho southern gold-field is of a satisfactory nature, if not particularly exciting The terrace workings to the south of Oknrita are yielding woll, and, moreover, extending, causing considerable excitement amongst tho inhabitants of tho township. All who could possibly leave had started for Iho now rush. Nothing of any moment had occurred at Jackson's Bay, although it was anticipated somo good country would ho oponed up, as a large party were prospecting in the vicinity of the Ilnast river. Provisions were toleraaly plentiful, as two stores had been sont round from Invercargill, and continued to dr.iw their supplies from that port. The Bruco landed fifty passengers at Jackson's Bay. Although tho polico havo of Into been rathov active in approhonding porsons guiJty of committing miisancoß on tho bench, they havo allowed to romain at high-wator mark, opposite tho Nng's Head hotel, for tho last throo or four days, tho oavensq of a pig which omits a stench s-rong enough to produoo a vory unpleasant offoct upon tho olfactory norvos of porsons within two hundred yards of tho placo whoro tho dead' animal lies, and is likely to cause sickness in tho neighbourhood. Tho business in tho Rcsiclont Magistrate's Court yesterday, when tho number of oasos gone into is considered, took an extraordinarily long timo t6 transact. Whnt with cases put at tho bottom of tho list to accommodate counsel ongagodin tho Warden's Court, tho rambling manner in which tho few witnosscs oxamincd gave thoir ovidonco, and tho hearing of applications for adjournments on bohalf of plaintiffs or defendants, who could not, or would not make it convenient to attend, business that should have beon finished in about an hour, was not completed until nearly hreo o'clock in tho afternoon. Tho Rosidont Magistrate is oviilontly ondowed with a largo amount of pationco } and it is to bo hoped thatplninliils and defendants— especially thoso who havo come sovornl miles— to bo told thnt thoir case is adjourned because the party on tho otlur side can not attend, have un equal amount of pntionco with his Worship. Tho following nro tho particulars of tho running for the Launcoston Champion Raco. Cndland lod off, Volunteor last, with Solfrelinnco. Tho half-milo, tho Roso of Donmark took a strong load, running woll, Cadland sooond, with Muhrattn and Cnthorstono following. At tho end of two miles, Cadland ran off tho courso, and so lost all ohancos of winning tho race In pnssing tho stand for tho Insfc timo Iho Roso of Donmark was first, with a fine position, Saxby second,- Bon Bolt third, and Volunteer a long way bohind. Sovernl changes took placo boforo roaohing tho hnlf-milo post from homo, when Strop wont through tho horsss liko a ball out of a Minio riflo, taking a clonr load of about four lengths a quarter of a milo from homo, and winning with tho groatost onso in fivo minutes and forty-sight seconds. Bon Bolt won tho second monoy after a sovoro strugglo with tho Roso of Donmark, as third. Volunteer nowhero. Colonel and Mrs Gore Browno woro presont at tho courso. Strop, tho winner of this raco, was by Panic, and ifc wns his first publio appearanco on a racecourse Thore woro about four thousand porsons prosent. Tlio Cfiiitorbiirv Press lias tho following noto on tho subjoofc of aoelimatisation :— -" A kiwi or aptoryx, may now bo scon at the Society's gardons. This is ono of the birds that probably ero long will be numbered with the past, its abodo being confined to Now Zonland only, whoro it is very scarce From the high value attached to it in other couritrios as an objeot of interest, ifc is to be hoped its acquisition and propagation will not be lost sight of by the Society, as an important means by way ofoxchange of introducing birds of a really usoful kind, rendered now absolutely necossary by the yearly devastating iuoreaso of caterpillars. As tho bird will probably bo shipped in a few days for Amorica, those desirous of seeing ifc should tako an early opportunity. Ifc is vory tamo, and towards ovenmg and early mom actively omployod in digging its long bill into tho ground in leareh of which f cmitf* tut» j(» v})\tt food,"

SALE OF TOWN LANDS. Wo publish olsowhoro the offioial regulations ou tho subjoot of tho sale of the town lands of llokitika and Groymouth. It will bo scon that tho Government feol thomsolvos restrained by tho strict lotter of tho law from adopting tho recommendations of tho Select Oommitteo us regards tho allotments comprised within the boundaries named in tho case of Hokitika. Tho law requires all town lands to bo put up to auction at an upset price per acre, and prevents any special consideration being given to tho present holders of sections. Under thoso circumstancos the Govommont havo determined not to put up thoso town lands for salo until an endeavor has been niado to oblain an amendment of tho Goldfiolds Act from tho General Assombly at its next meeting, in order to moot tho viowa of tho Committee. With reference to the town sections not included in the block specified, they are to be put up for sale by auction at an upset price of L4B per acre! but the value of improvements on them will be paid to Iho present occupiers out of the price realised at the stile. The owners of improvements must obtain a certificate from the Warden as to their being the lawful occupiers of the sections on which the improvements exist, mid those certificates must be produced on the day of sale. For other particulars wo refer to tho published regulations.