PROPOSED NEW COUNTY FOR THE GREY DISTRICT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 502, 11 May 1869, Page 3

PROPOSED NEW COUNTY FOR THE GREY DISTRICT.

The largest aud most influential meetiug ever held in Greymouth took place (says the Argus,) on Friday, the 30th ult., in the large hall attached to Gilmer's Hotel. Mr W. Perkins moved the first resolution :—" Whereas the Geueral Assembly of New Zealand has recognined the principle of local self-go-vernment, aud by reason of the River Grey being the boundaiy line between the Province of Nelson and the County of Westland, great injury to the Grey River district is experienced and the cost of government increased, it is, therefore, in the opinion of this meeting, desirable that such boundary should be done away with, and that the entire Grey Valley, extending from the Teremakau to Razorback, thence eastward to the dividing range, or some point to be afterwards determined, should be formed into one separate County." The present boundary line had been a constant cause of serious dispute. Almost every day grumbling was to be heard in the district about it, for the loss to the district through it was very serious, the revenue raised in it being divided, and half of it taken away from the place where it ought legitimately to be spent. They were going on from time to time hearing those complaints, and quietly suffering the injustice, and doing nothing. The Customs revenue of the port and the

gold duties were divided, the miner had to declare where he got his gold, I the bank agent had to declare that in his returns, and so had the Customhouse authorities. The effect of this division gave rise to great annoyances and inconveniences, as an instance of which he might mention the miners' rights. If a miner coming to the district took out a right in Greymouth and crossed the river he must take out another, and all this within a very short distance, thus compelling the mining community to pay double duty to the Government, because of

the present obnoxious division of the County. —(Applause.) The strongest point in the argument—the greatest grievanee—was the system of dividing the revenue of the port, between Nelson and "Westland, and on this subject he quoted figures which had been compiled from government documents. ' Mr Kennedy seconded the motion. He did not think the district could be equitably treated either from Hoki- ' tika or "Westport. If they did not ' move in the scheme at the present time, and the prayer of the petition of the people of Westport was granted, » they would find that the revenues of - the district would be divided and 3 spent elsewhere. 1 The other resolutions were that a

petition should be prepared, and that ( Mr Harrison, M.H.E., should be asked K to present it. Mr Harrison said that on his way from "Wellington he had called at Westport expressly to commuuicate 1 with, the leaders of the Separation movement there, regarding the boundary of their proposed County. He had then no knowledge of the movement going on in Greymouth, but he made it a condition with the "Westport folk that if they hoped to have his "V support in Parliament they must consent to accept the Razorback as their boundary. (Cheers.) He believed they were willing to accede to this, and that there would be no opposition from that quarter.