THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 717, 29 September 1870, Page 2

THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

The natural port for this rich and promising district is Westport. Notwithstanding this, the miners on the Upper Inangahua have heen supplied from the Grey river side of the Saddle, at a much greater cost than would have been the case if tracks had been completed and kept in order along the Buller and the Inangahua. Even yet the greater part of the trade goes to the Grey, but the people of that district are not satisfied. In expression of this district jealousy the " Grey Valley Times " says:—" According to a recent notification sent by Dr Giles, the Warden at Westport, to Mr Warden Whitefoord, to the effect that Murray's Creek aud the various other diggings in the neighborhood are in the Buller District, all applications will have to be made in Westport, and all Warden's cases will have to be heard there. The miners on the upper part of the Inangahua are in consequence up in arms, and we think justly so when we consider that the distance to Westport is 65 miles, while that to the Ahaura is only 33. We believe it is intended to get up a petition to Dr Giles upon the matter, and we trust that the inhabitants, not only of Murray's Creek but also of this part of the district, will lend a helping hand. For a number of years the locality in question has been almost entirely supplied from this side, and now that the district is likely to become a flourishing and prosperous one, an attempt is made by the Westport people to divert the traffic to their town. We do not think, however, that if the circumstances are properly placed before him, Dr Giles will lend himself to the perpetration of such a grievous injustice." It is unnecessary to point out that, what ever may be the case as to mining applications, it is not from the Ahaura but from Greymouth that supplies must come, if not from Westport, as they should do. As an amusing illustration of the popular jealousy of the imaginary benefits Westport is receiving, we quote the following from a correspondent of our Grey Valley contemporary : —" It is no good trying to gull the public that the Exchequer is empty. If it is, how is it that extensive public works are now being carried on at Westport, where a contract has lately been entered into with a Mr Pell for the delivery of 2000 tons of granite, for the purpose of preliminarily constructing breast works on the Buller River ? How is it that within the last month several new streets have been formed and metalled at Westport ? Could all this have been done if the Treasury were empty ? No; it may be convenient to the powers that be, to advance Westport at our expense, but a day of reckoning is coming, when the Grey Valley will insist upon not being treated as a child, or playing second fiddle to Westport or any other pet port."