THE DEPUTATION TO THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 412, 25 November 1868, Page 2

THE DEPUTATION TO THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY.

"We gave, yesterday, some memoranda of the conversation between the Provincial Secretary and the Members of the Progress Committee with whom he had an interview on Saturday evening. We are told, further, that, on the subject of the river bank, the deputation were informed by Mr Greenfield that the action of the Government must in a great measure depend on the report of their Engineer. If, as had been stated in the newspapers, the Engineer was of opinion that it would be useless to attempt anything at a iess cost than from £12,(300 to £20,000, nothing could be done in the present state of the revenue, the Provincial Account being considerably overdrawn at the Bank.

The Committee then suggested that additional engineering skill should be brought to bear on a question of so much importance to the district.

The Provincial Secretary considered the suggestion worth consideration, and promised to write to tha Super-

intendent by the next mail acquainting, him with the wish of the Committee, with a view to obtaining Mr Balfour'e opinion. With regard to the writ for the election of a Provincial Councillor, Mr Greenfield explained that it was delayed in the first instance because of Mr Kynnersley's resignation as Returning Ollicer, and on the writ being sent to Dr Giles, who had been appointed in place of Mr Kynnersley, Dr Giles recommended additional polling places at Addison's and the Caledonian, and these polling places must be fixed before the day of nomination.

Mr Greenfield was misrepresented in being described as having stated that the Government might undertake the working of the Buller coalfields. There were other trifling inaccuracies in the report given, which w r ould probably have been avoided had a reporter been present. It is not the etiquette of reporters to intrude themselves at such interviews, but it is usual for deputations to intimate their desire to have one present, the great object being that, not they themselves but the public, should be informed on the subject of interview. In the present case, there is no fault to be found with the deputation, except on the grouuds that they had too modest an appreciation of their own importance.

It was the intention of Mr Greenfield to have proceeded yesterday to the Caledonian and Giles Terraces, but the weather interfered. He will probably do so to-dav, and proceeds afterwards to the south, overland.