The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 448, 7 January 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1869.

A dailt increasing amount of attention is being given by the miners of the district to the resources of what is generally designated the Upper Buller. Since the holidays, what may with safety be called a considerable number of men have started out in that direction, and it would lequire but a very slight report of a favourable character to induce a rush of some dimensions. One great obstacle to the adventure, however, is the reported difficulty of the means of transit for goods, besides the difficulty of men reaching their destination without great trouble and exertion. It is the complaint of everyone who has either casually or purposely visited the district that the obstacles to prospectiug, or to the supplying of provisions at anything less than extravagant prices, are of a very serious character. It is the universal representation that a road is urgently wanted— that existing portions of the road are almost in an impassable state, and that, for the greater part of the way there is not only no road, but natural impediments to the progress of the miners which greatly deter any but determined men and comparatively affluent parties from prosecuting the search for gold. All this is, no doubt, nothing new ; but it is a story which has lately been more frequently told, because there are more to tell it, and because tlie naturally bad condition of the road has lately been aggravated by increased traffic, and by the absence of any effort to place it in a passable state. It "i 3 a provoking circumstance that, while all this is known and admitted, nothing is being done by the Nelson Q-overnment to remedy the evil, or to assist in developing one of the best portions of the provincial estate. It is still more provoking thitthat Government has such an excellent excuse as the excuse that they are destitute of the means to undertake public works either there or elsewhere. Articles on the subject, and public agitation, can go for nothing so long as that answer is always available. In fact, it is an answer which inevitably closes all discussion, and takes the pith out of anything that may be said or written on any one subject connected with public expenditure in this Province. The shake of an empty purse in the blank faces of the people who have paid their taxes on the faith of some equivalent being received by them in return, is a much more cogent argument than can possibly be contaiued in the most ardent writings of the local press. Vulgarly expressed, the position which the people of the West Coast occupy towardd the Government at Nelson is exactly the position of the man who would attempt the feat of taking " the breeks off a Hielan'man."

There is a temptation to continue the metaphor, hut perhaps the better way of pursuing the subject would he to suggest that, if nothing can be obtained at present from the Nelson Government, they might at least give some guarantee of doing something for the district when they are able. At present we know of no effort being made in even that direction. The district remains apparently much more a terra incognita to the Government than it does to those who expend bone, sinew, and hard cash in contending with the natural obstacles which it presents A compromise is not even effected by surveyors or engineers being put upon the line of road, and by a sufficiently good track being laid out, in anticipation of works being undertaken at some

future day; and that such preliminary v> ork is yet necessary seems apparent from the numerous suggestions which are made hy those who visit the district as to the improper selections of road-line which have already been made, and as to the improvements which, in that respect alone, might be effected. Nor is any scheme devised by which the money already voted by the Provincial Government might be obtained, although, for such a work, we believe that in any other Province the Executive would make an aci/ive euort to ooi&iu tne money, if tkey had it not in hand. There remains ay me present moment uut one small consoling circumstance, and that is that the Warden, Dr Giles, purposes very shortly visiting the Buller and the Lyell and, as we presume, satisfying himself, by ■personal inspection, of the requirements and deserts of the districts. At least, it may reasonably be presumed that Dr. Giles, during his intended visit, will endeavor to do so. One report from such an official and reliable source may have more influence than all the anonymous representations that can be made on the subject ; and we trust it will be a report upon which the Executive will act with all the expedition necessary, and with more expedition than is proverbially attributable to the movements of such heavy bodies as the Nelson Government. It only requires the neglect of this district, and of some other kindred matters, to be thoroughly established as a " raw " in the backs of the population of the West Coast, to make the out-cry for Separation universal and successful.