SEPARATION FROM NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 446, 5 January 1869, Page 2

SEPARATION FROM NELSON.

A letter recently appeared in the Grey River Argus, signed " A Cobdenite," and stating that " the conviction has been forced upon us that it is better to act for ourselves than to starve under the chilling patronage and the incessant and exhaustive bleeding manipulation of the Nelson Provincial Government." In a subsequent number, another correspondent signing himself " Truth " wrote :—" I would respectfully ask ' A Cobdenite ' whether figures will subtantiate so sweeping an assertion, and if so, will he, with your permission, produce them." In reply " A Cobdenite" has written the following letter: — Sir, —In this morning's issue of your paper there appears a letter signed " Truth," asking for figures in proof of a statement I made in a letter which appeared in the Argus of the sth inst, and so far as I am able will try to satisfy him, but must premise by stating that I have taken the Government returns for the September quarter for a basis for the Customs revenue and gold duty ; the other receipts are only approximations. The amomnt of customs revenue received at Greymouth during the quarter ended the 30th September, 1868, was £14,170 10s ss, of which Nelson received one-half, £7085 5s 2fd, which, multiplied by 4, gives for the year £28,341 0 10 One-half of this has to be deducted as the General Government's share ... 14,173 10 5

£14,170 10 5 Share of expenses for collecting 800 0 0 Net customs revenue for Nelson ... £13,370 10 5 Grold duty for same quarter, £3024, of which Nelson received, £1731, which, multiplied by 4, gives 6,924 0 0 £20,294 10 5 To this has to be added Miners' rights, £6OOO, Publicans' licenses, £IOOO, Business licenses, £2OO, Miners'leases, £100... 7,300 0 0 £27,594 10 5 I have no means of ascertaining the amounts received for "Warden's fees, sale and leases of agricultural and pastoral lands. The expenditure is approximate also,butl suspect it willbe found pretty near the mark, and is to th 6 end of the year (financial) ended 30th September. Tracks £llOO Salaries 2000 Hospital ... 1500 Harbor and sundries 1400 £6OOO Still there is the sum of about twenty thousand pounds taken annually from this district to be expended at some more favoured spot, and it was this unjust appropriation by the Nelson Provincial Government that I stigmatized " chilling patronage," &c, &c, and I think that " Truth " will agree with me that the terms were neither misapplied nor undeserved.