COUNTY SEPARATION.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 455, 21 January 1869, Page 3

COUNTY SEPARATION.

I( To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sir, —On reading your paper of the 19th inst., I perceive an able leading article on the subject of Separation, as well as the Chairman's speech on that subject at the meeting of the Progress Committee. With your kind permission I will offer a few remarks on the subject, although my hand is not over steady from the use of the long-handled shovel, or my brain very clear from the constant din of the pick. The interests of the miner have always been neglected by the Province of Nelson. In the first place, should a party of men go prospecting for a new goldfield, and go through great privations in pursuit of that object, in » consequence of the absence of a track to the scene of their labor, and should they be successful in their search, and find valuable and lasting ground that will give remunerative labor to seme hundreds, the Nelson Government will give no encouragement towards the opening of the ground, not even so far as to expend two or three hundred pounds in a branch track, as in the instance of Giles Terrace. In that case the money was actually voted for an extension of the present Caledonian track, and then they make the barefaced statement that they have no money—that there was a mistake in their accounts with the General Government. Now, Sir, there is no excuse on either the side of the General or of the Provincial Government for such an error. But if any allowance is to be made on either side, it should be made to the General Government, because, if they made so serious an error, what were the Nelson officials doing that they did not discover it at the time ? The only answer that can be given to this is that they were, as usual, busily engaged " doing nothing," with one exception, and that was and is squandering the revenue of Westland, North, at which occupation, I must allow, they are experts, so far as Nelson is concerned, where, I dare say, the prodigal schemes of a railway to Cobden and a dry dock are looked, upon as a first-rate stroke of policy, whilst the question of finince is only a mere bagatelle, as they can appropriate the revenues of Westport and Cobden for that purpose.

When the town of "VVestport was threatened with utter destruction and suffered severe loss, some time since, the Superintendent would do nothing. There was no money. Surely Nelson, though a poor little township, is not without a bank, and I am quite sure the Provincial Government are fully aware of the advantages of such institutions. A small over-draft could have been easily procured to carry on protective works in "Westport until such time as the Council should meet. Then we have the Buller track left in an impassable state, while the track from Nelson to the Upper Buller is, of course, made, a large portion of it as a dray road. This is done with the view of throwing the trade of the place into the hands of a few petty shop-keepers at Nelson, and, of course, retaining it from Westport, to which it is much nearer and naturally belongs. To use the words of your leading article " the time has come when the question of Separation must be looked in the face>" and it is more than probable that men can be found in North Westland capable of managing the affairs of the district, not only as well as the Nelson public, but infinitely better for themselves and the population who will elect them. The time, I hope, is not far distant, and then Nelson can support her own Superintendent with the host of useless officials and police to be seen in that littlotown, kept only for the vanity of the inhabitants in some cases and for their mercenary proclivities in other instances, at the expense of Westland North. All I can say, Mr Editor, is, that every miner in my district will sign a petition to free us from Nelson, as I think we are both willing and able to spend our own money in our own district without the help of Nelson to do so. I must say we all admire the stand Mr Tyler has made for the district. His scheme of separation will receive a cordial support from us, and we hope to see it soon an accomplished fact. Apologosing for the occupation of your valuable space, —lam, Sir, &c. A Miner.