ANNIVERSARY OF THE "WEST COAST TIMES."

West Coast Times, Issue 195, 4 May 1866, Page 3

ANNIVERSARY OF THE "WEST COAST TIMES."

(From The Desjxdch, May 3.) This is the first anniversary of the first publication of a newspaper on the West Coaffc of JS T ew Zealand. On the 3rd day of May, in the year of grace one thousand eight hundred and sixty five, the " West Coast Times " was modestly ushered into existence. Until a lew weeks antecedent to that date, \rhat is now Westland, with a population roundly estimated at from 25,000 to 30,000 persons, and a gold export rivalling that of Victoria itself was literally a terra incognita. The first number of our contemporary "was creditable production under tho circumstances of its publication. It made its appearance in the field of journalism with an apology and a promise. The apology was justified ; the promise was redeemed. The press in Westland has since become a power, and is destined to exercjse an important influence in the direction of public affairs. On the whole it has maintained a tone honorable to itself, and to the great political estate of which it is a member. What a history of development the twelve months covered by this reminiscence have exhibited. In the growth of a gigantic commerce ; in the creation of a great capital town ; in tho opening up of- extensive goldfields, almost unexampled in richness, wo find the materials of a story such as the jtt^rapjvvjof few young states has ever furnished! "Ne^v^Souttr]2W^les^Kn(r| Victoria . were both old-settled' countries, before the gold discoveries were made. Otago had been colonised fprjears, aud had laid the solid foundaf,ionj)f a permanent prosperity, when the proclamation of its rich deposits attracted to_its Bliorcs a new swarm of population. Westland was a blank in the map, a land unknown to commerce) and exploration until scarcely more than a year ago the fame of its mineral wealthbegan to bobruited abroad^ What a vast revolution has since taken place. It holds now direct commercial relations with all the neighbouring colonies ; it sends forth monthly consignments of gold that create a feeling of wonder abroad ; and it is rapidly undergoing the process of organisation. It remains only for the people here to be trno to themselves, and to work heartily for tho promotion of the interests of the district, and Westland will speflily kc.omo ono of ttwlpniU

And what do we mean by the people boii.g tvue to themfelves ? We mean, let them be hearty .and nnitccl in demanding from the'Grovei'nmenl; by which their affairs ara. .'administered, tho adoption of measures' iie^ssnry to develop© resources that have ijever yet been eyen fairly tested. Let theltf insist upon the appropriation' to district works of tho revenues raised in the district; upon the construction without any more delay and idle talfc of roads and tracks, upon the substitution for the present most unsatisfactory system of government by a Commissioner with arbitrary but undefined powers, and without any recognised responsibility, of a local responsible administration : and as a first step towards the attaina ment of this end lefc them send " into the Provincial Council men who will be able to assert and maintain their claims. Without separation from the ' rest of Canterbury the district may i still command for itself a proud and ' prosperous position. But its main hope of being enabled to do thin depends on its taking its proper place in the legislature of the province, aiid making itself heard and felt as a political power. Tho matter rests wholly with the people, but as tho writs of elections may now bo daily expected, and as the shortest time allowed by form of law will doubtless be permitted to pass before the elections themselves take place, the people must bo on the alert, unless they are willing to let the best opportunity they have yet enjoyed of asserting their claims, be lost.