PUBLIC MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 923, 6 February 1872, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

people

Following shortly after the presentation of the address, a public meeting was held at the Court House, for the

purposa of laying before the llou, Mr Fox a statement of tho condition of

affairs in tlio district, the matters of complaint in connection with tho administration of the Provincial Govern-

ment, and to suggest certain remedies. There was a good attendance of towns-

Mr O'CoNOit stated that tho deputation had availed themselves of Mr

Fox's expressed readiness to listen to their statements, and the result was that Mr Munro, Mr Fisher and himself had been entrusted with tho

responsibility of addressing him on P behalf of the public. For his part he 8 would leave the gentlemen who would s follow him to deal with the subject of * Nelson mismanagement. The matter c to which ho would chiefly confine * himself was a very important one as * affecting this district. It would be in fc Mr Fox's recollection that Mr Harri- r sou, the member for Grey Valley, and c . himself had beeninstrumentaliu obtain- 1 ing the sanction of the House of * Eepresentatives to an enactment which secured to the Nelson South-west I Goldfields four elevenths of the Nelson 1 Provincial share of the Middle Island 1 ! Kailway Fund for expenditure | upon roads and public works. ■ Their share amounted, he believ- ' ed, to £24,000. It had lately come to his knowledge that Mr Curtis and Mr Harrison had lately made representations to the Government which, if acted upon, would be the means of diverting a sum of £OOOO from the goldfields in a manner which was never intended. He believed that the Government had in a measuro promised the sum to Mr Curtis to be expended in the Waimea district; but he trusted that he should be able to represent the matter in such a light as would induce the Government to reconsider - tho matter and arrest such a disposal. If the Government acted in accordance with Mr Curtis's wishes, it would not only be an injustice to the goldfields population and contrary to the intention of the Legislature, but it would be an illegal act. _ The clause of the Act, apportioning this fuud to the Goldfields of this Province, reads as follows : "S. The Governor in Council may ' from time to time direct that the share of the Province of Nelson in the 1 moneys for the time being standing to tho credit of the Middle Island Rail- | way Fund, may be expended in the construction or improvement of such j railways, tramways, or roads in the ; said Province as the General Assembly I may prescribe : Provided, however, " that within that part of the Nelson ; South West Goldfields, south of the ? northern boundary of the Buller Elec--5 toral District as the same is now dc- ; fined, it shall bo lawful for the Gover ' nor in Council from time to time to direct that such portion of the said ' money, being four-elevenths part and no more, may be expended in tho conj struction of tramways or roads as the Governor in Council may prescribe, ' and thereupon such portion may be so expended ; and the tenth and eleventh 3 sections of the said Act shall apply to r such tramways or roads within that " part of the Province of Nelson as if 3 the same were railways authorized to P be made under the said Act ra the ' said Province."

—According to that clause it would be seen that the line was definitely laid down, and the locality indicated where the money was to be expended. The object of the Superintendent was to receive this money, if possible, for that part of the Upper Buller which really formed part of the Waimea district, and although the settled districts of Nelson had elected, through their representatives, to accept the line of Railway from Nelson to Foxhill as their share of the Middle Island Railway Fund, to obtain for them also part, of that which by the Legislature was intended for the G-rey and Buller public works. He trusted that the present action would be ihe means of counteracting this iniquitous proceeding. What the inhabitants of this district desired was to see a good road opened through the Valley, which woukl be the means of opening a field for settlement and of cheapening the Co3t of pro- j visions to the miner. Another matter which he desired to call attention to was the desirability of selling the agricultural lands so that persons desirous to do so might settle on their own freehold. The fault of the agricultural leasing system now in vogue was that it did not bind a man to the soil; he had no permanent interest in it, and was in fact but a tenant at will. Large numbers of leases were taken up in the early days and had been abaudooed, but if the lands had been s.dd it would have been altogether different, and the country would have baen everywhere dotted with settlements. He hoped that the General Government would repair this injury in the future. Any appeal to the Provincial .Government would be useless, as their great aim seemed to be the extortion of rents for the lands under their control, whether agricul tura; or mineral, and, as a proof of their disregard towards the goldfields, he might instance the present attempt of the Superintendent to deprive them of a portion of the vote for a£24<,000. If, as reported,Mr Harrison supported this diversion, he was led intoit by his ignorance of the country, or else he was guilty of an act which deserved the severest condemnation. It would be mostunfortunateif this money were scattered over a number of am all works without effecting any permanent improvement. The Provincial Government bad indulged greatly in that

sort of thing. They appeared to have the unhappy knack of completing nothing; roads were commenced at one end, and never carried through, or even in the centre, as in the case of the

road from Addison's to Charleston! He trusted that there would be no

repetition of these absurdities, but that any road to be constructed in future would be made a permanent, complete, and substantial work. It would not be out of place to urge the

necessity of hastening communication with the Inangahua so that the cost of provisions would be reduced, and the storekeepers be enabled to get a good supply before the winter season set in. He (Mr Eox) would be aware that communication was otten liable to in-

terruption by floods, and the population was gathering so fast that it became a very grave and responsible matter to hurry the road through as quickly as possible, lest suffering, perhaps starvation, be the result. An expression of feeling had come from G-reymouth indicating a desire on the pare of storekeepers resident there that the whole £2-i,OOO should be ex-

pended in connecting Grreymouth with the Inangahua Valley. In Westport they were not so selfish. They desired to see a road all the way through from the Grrey to the Buller. It

would open up the country ou botl sides of the Saddle,aud enable produce to be conveyed to a good market, causing settlement in the magnificent valley of Inangahua, while it would also cause a healthy competition in trade between Westport and Greymouth highly conducive to the interests of the mining' population. There was another subject ho had to refer to, and that was the Mount Rochfort coal-mine. Unpleasant rumours had circulated adverse to the opening of the mine, and poople in Westport were naturally very anxious in respect to this matter. Ho had no hesitation in stating-that of all the bar harbours on the Coast the Bnller was the only ono that oifered great facilities for a colonial coal trade. Not alone that the channel was deeper, but that it was the only port that possessed a safe aud sheltered anchorage.: While on this subject, he would bear testimony to the value of the trifling protective works constructed during the past twelvemonths on the banks of the Buller. The effect of these works had been to concentrate the discharge of water, thus scouring the channel and deepening it. The depth of water was now eight feet more than it was twelve months ago; and* an extension of the works would so deepen the channel as to render it available for the largest vessels required. It was supposed that Dr Hector had noi. been sufficiently long at Maunt Eochfort to enable him to advance au opinion opposed to al[ those who had previously reported on its capabilities. He believed that Dr Hector was called away hurriedly, and the weather during his visit was very unfavorable for exploration. Other matters of local interest and complaint would be referred to by the speakers who would follow him. In conclusion, he would remark that his (Mr Fox's) advent amongst them was regarded as that of one to give a verdict as to whether the complaints of Provincial mismanagement were well founded. He felt satisfied that the result of bis (Mr Fox's) visit would be to force upon him the conviction that local selfgovernment was greatly required, and would prove of the utmost advantage to the inhabitants of these goldfields. IVLr "Munho felt some difficulty in givinsj expression to the various matters of complaint and the grievances under which the people suffered from the mismanagement of the Provincial authorities. He regretted that Mr Curtis was not present, as much that he had to say that geutleman was more or less associated with, but as the same matters had been previously referred to on the occasion of his last visit his absence was not so material. One sad effect of the disregard and contemptuous indifference the community had received at the hands of the Provincial authorities, had been to cast the people into a state of political apathy, out of which it was impossible to arouse them. Public spirit was crushed and ahnost stamped out. The inhabitants took an active part in a movement having for its object to obtain separation from the Province of Nelson. The result of that petition he (Mr Fox) would be familiar with. The chief grievance that they had was that they received no share of the Provincial expenditure for urgent public works. This had been met by Mr Curtis with the statement that the goldfields had enjoyed a larger expenditure than the revenue derived. In support of this Mr Curtis had stated that from 1805 to 1871 the receipts had been £190,000 as against £266,000 disbursed ; so that there had been -a loss of £76,000 to the settled districts of Nelson. They were not in any position to disprove these figures, and therefore must accept them as correct; but admitting so much, it wag self-

evident that if the money had been expended there had been gross mismanagement. There was no single work of importance to show for this money anywhere ; certainly none in Westport. The hospital, the athenaeum, the nre brigade, the punt on the river, the wharves, had all becu constructed and supported, by public subscription or private enterprise. The hospital was supported by the public and by Provincial allowances iu the proportion of one and two-thirds respectively ; sjthe athenamm and fire brigade were all but exclusively supported by public contributions. With

H

the exception of residences for th( ■Provincial officers, the Governrnom wharf (a ricketty structure, the lease o: which for twelve months was sold or Saturday last for £2O), and Orawaiti bridge, there was nothing in Westporl to show for the money expended. The purchase of the Orawaiti bridge was another striking illustration of mismanagement. It was originally built by a party holding a protection and empowered to levy art exorbitant rate of toll. After this had gone on foi a few years the Government purchased the bridge, giving the proprietor a sum that would represent the original cost. Shortly after the bargain had been completed it was discovered that the structure was rotten and had to be condemned, It was c'osed for traffic immediately afterwards, and though since opened can only be used at imminent risk. During his (Mr JVtunro's) live years' residence in Westport the Superintendent had ouly,twice visited the Coast, and on the latter occasion only for electioneering purposes. Ad for any benefit that the people here derived from the proximity of the Superintendent, he might squally well reside in London. In fact, Mr Ciirtis'a views as to their mode of living and requirements wore just such as he should expect a person who had resided all his life in Loudon to entertain, and whose entire knowledge of digging life . was derived from private letters, and these very much coloured; The i Superintendent regarded the gold ' workings as only of value for the • provincial revenue to .be derived \ from them. He knew that'so. longasj

there was gold a population would be attracted; but to improve the con; dition of the people and to dffer them the advantages enjoyed by the in; habitants of the settled districts, he had never seriously contemplated. The 500 miles of road so often referred to by Mr Curtis did not exist in fact. They had no roads whatever worthy o! the name, and the majority of them were mere surveyors' lines. Many of the tracks used were constructed bj private individuals, who obtained pro. tection and authority to levy a toll Howevor ha '(Mr Fox") would shortlj have an opportunity of judging, for himself df the value of these extensivi road works. Here and there they had good roads, but theses consisted of hard beach, and were as nature formed them. The Buller Towing Trad had been recently constructed by private individuals incorporated as i company to facilitate the navigation o! that river, and every improvement w& initiated the same way. The rovenw was absorbed without undertakjnj beneficial works ; and protections wetj granted right and left empowerm; private individuals to construct .wort which the Government themselvei should execute. Even the protectm works referred to by Mr. O'Conoi were not undertaken until fifty 0/ sixty feet of their main thoroughfa had been washed away, and the pro perty adjoining rendered of compars tively small value. Iu the Counc they had no fair share of represent! tion, and one of their members ha no stake or interest in the distriis It was not for him to suggest how ti remedy should be applied ; but it m the opinion of his fellow-townsme that the withdrawal of the delegate powers from the Superintendent, an some form of local self-governmeni with power to control the expenditui of their local revenue would meet .ft wishes of the inhabitants." Mr Bickertox Fisiiee would 111 extend his remarks to anv length,* the previous speakers had left hii little room for comment. During !t eighteen months' residence in Wesi port the Superintendent had only on; been on the Coast. It was unnecs sary for him to repeat the history! neglect and mismanagement evince by the Provincial authorities. I point of value of exports Westpt ranked as the fifth port of the color, and ho would ask if its appearances dicated any such importance. U Nelson Government would do note All their efforts to open Mount Erie) fort, and the Inangahua and the Lji districts had been persistently oj posed by the Superintendent, i though the .two latter works we quite within the power of the pri vince to execute. In Nelson tk regarded the Mount Kochfort coi field only as of value in so far nsi could benefit them, and until tbe were connected with it by rail tl Government was utterly indiffereati to its being opened. He could 8 dorse Mr Munro's remarks as totl Westport expenditure. £60,000 bi been spent in what was termed tl Upper Buller road, and this item W placed against the goldfields, althooj it was constructed before the cos was settled, and really was not a W" in any way connected with them, j loosely was the work let for its CO struction, that men were known J earn £5 per day while employed oni and then only working a few hot! daily.' But now maladministratin went even further, and it now becat impossible for persons to obtain reply to applications in connoctio with the construction of public wort Months ago a proposal was submife to the Superintendent to construct •tramway from Westport to abo' Snag Falls,-.which would cut ofM most difficult navigation of the Bull river. To this, application no rep had bctii vouchsafed, and it realappeared as if the Government desjlj to retard all communication with" Inangahua and Lyell, except froin^ 6 ) son as a starting point. . An appl'* tion to construct a bridge on t™ Orawaiti river had also been kept"

•abeyance, together with various applicat'o is for a tramway connecting Reef ton with Black's Point. Even the condition of the very streets bore evidence of Provincial neglect. A revenue of £3OO to £IOO was derived from Gladstone street, and during the past live years not £lO had been expended ou it in repairs. Ho did not know whether it was fitting to offer any suggestion in respect to a remedy, but ho far as the Nelson Government was concerned, it might as well be in Hong Kong and the Superintendent a mandarin of the Celestial Empire for all beneficial effects the goldllelds experienced from the connection. The only cares Of the Provincial administration appeared to bo how they could most thoroughly bleed the goldfielda and fatten Nelson. He and others thought that the withdrawal of the delegated powers, and the General Government themselves to assume the administration, paying over a proportion of the goldfields reveii ue to local bodies for local'distribution, were in accordance with the generally entertained views of the inhabitants.

Mr O'Conoc had been requested to refer to the desirability of selling the 'town lands. He also trusted that some relief would be afforded them in respect to the Licensing Act. It was a flagrant wrong they should have one ordinance for the settled districts and another for the goldiields, while under the latter persons conducting business in an undisguisedly immoral manner had no difficulty in obtaining licenses.

Mr Fox : There should be no difficulty in selling the lands. Mr O'CoNt'R: Only One, sir, that tbe Provincial Government obtain an annual rental in the shape of business licenses equalling in amount the value of the fee simple.

The Eon Mr Fox had to thank them for 'the full statement of local grievances; and although the majority of these had reference to matters over 'which the General Government had no •control so long as these Goldfields 'wefe connected with the Nelson Province, "yet he had received ■ many usefulhints.and much valuable information. It would be impossible for him upon'his slight acquaintance to-express an opinion upon 'the matters brought under his notice, but he would be in a position to do so before many days were over. There was the subject that Mr O'Conor had dwelt upon in respect to the misappropriation of the goldfields share of the Middle Island Railway Fund, and that being essentially a matter over which the Colonial Government had control, he had no 'difficulty in referring to that subject. Any arrangement made by his col- ■ leagues with Mr Curtis had been conducted during his absence, and could only be of a-temporary or provisional 'character. He quite agreed with Mr O'Conor that the object of that vote was ■that the four-elevenths should be devo•ted to exclusively goldfields purposes ■and was altogether apart from and disconnected with the settled districts of Nelson. Apart from that consideration he was at present of opinion that the only proper means of opening up the Inangahua and Grey Valley districts was by the roads now in contemplation. He had examined plans and maps, and thought it was very unlikely that he should have reason to alter that opinion. He had communicuted with his colleagues in respect to that matter, and he thought it very likely that they would endorse his views. ' Referring to Dr Hector's exploration of the Buller coalfield, that gentleman had not yet forwarded his report to the Government. He had had a short conversation with him, and the result of it was that the Mount Rocbfort coalmine was not so extensive : as had been supposed. Notwithstanding that, he (Mr Fox) would be far from 'saying it was not well worth working. The . hon. gentleman then referred to I the contemplated visit of Mr Reeves, Minister of Public Works for the Mid- J 'die Island. He could see that it was necessary to give direct and immediate •access to the Inangahua, and he would do his best to impress his views on his 'colleagues, although he could not promise that they would positively be adopted. He thought that there could be no difficulty in introducing municipalities and road boards, although in connection with the latter some difficulty had been experienced in Westland in respect to rating mining property. As to the money that had been already spent, that was past and gone and could not be remedied, but such evils could be avoided in the future. He was of opinion that some form of government-, analogous to and consistent with those, already in existence, might be devised and sanctioned by the A-ssernbly if found suitable to the requirements of the goldfields. - They were a most important 'element in the prosperity of the •colony, and he assured * his hearers that neither his colleagues nor he were disposed to underrate their importance. But for the opportune and •providential discovery ofgold the colony, involved in a heavy war expenditure, must have become bankrupt. And he was certain that their prosperity contributed very largely to that of every other industry in the colony. Speaking of the districts in which he held property—Wangamri and Rangitikei—the supply of the West Coast m'arkets was a very great boon to the settlors there The speaker concluded by expressing a hope that the resources of these goldfields would continue to be developed, and in resuming his seat was warmly applauded. ■ Mr O'Cosos, on,behalf of his fellowtownsmen, thanked Mr Fox for the patient hearing he had given, and the meeting dissolved.