The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 875, 17 October 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1871.

The efforts of the Greymouth people .to obtain separation from the County of Westland has resulted in a countermovouient by the inhabitants of Hokitika. On Tuesday evening the latter held a meeting, approving resolutions condemning any alteration in the form of government constituted within the County anil the proposal to annex the Grey portion of the County to the Nelson Province This was followed by a meeting held at G-reymouth on Friday ovening, for the purpose of obtaining nn expression of public opinion on the desirability of the proposed annexation to Nelson. So far as can bo gathered from what was said on that occasion by those addressing the meeting, the proposal did not meet with warm approval. It was accepted as an instalment of still greater changes, and as giving increased power ' and influeneo to Greymouth ; but it still fell considerably short of what had been deemed desirable. One of the speakers said that he was not in favour of annexation, but he thought it was the best scheme which the General Government had yet brought before them. Another thought that they might not gain much by annexation to Nelson, but the powers of the Provincial Councils were to be modified, and therefore the Nelson Provincial Council would not be able to do them much harm. A third speaker consoled himself with the prospect of "kicking" over the Nelson Government, if the latter did not behave itself satisfactorily. There appears, however, to be a perfect unanimity as to the* desirability of casting loose from the County, though it does not appear to be any longer urged that Greyraouth and surrounding districts have reason to complain of the distribution of revenue by the County authorities. Were such the case it is not likely that so obvious a ground of dissatisfaction would have been kept in the background; and we must therefore look for some other cause to account for the anxiety of the people of Greymouth to obtain a change. This contiuued agitation is due, we think, to a feeling of impatience at the secondary position which Greymouth must continue to hold so long as it forms part of the County of Westland. Although possessing an import trade equal to Hokitika, and serving as the inlet and outlet of a district richer in mineral wealth than that of which Hokitika forms the centre, Greymouth is wanting in the prestige and political influence which attaches to the capital of the County. To erect the Grey district into a separate County, with tho Teremakau and liazorback as boundaries, is the real object of the Greymouth agitation. Any change is to be accepted in the meantime as offering a stepping-stone to the attainment of the desired object.