THE SUPERINTENDENT AT REEFTON.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 931, 24 February 1872, Page 2

THE SUPERINTENDENT AT REEFTON.

On Monday last a deputation, consisting of the most influential inhabitants, waited upon his Honor, and presented a congratulatory address, welcoming him to Inangahua, to which he returned a suitable reply. Several gentlemen addressed his Honor on the main objects of the deputation, namely, the removal of the town and the projected protective works of the river. His Honor said that the removal or otherwise would be left to the Provincial Engineer, by whose opinion the Government would be guided; but should the removal of the reserve be decided upon, the Government would take into consideration the loss incurred by business people. On the subject of a road from Reefton, his Honor said that he was afraid that nothing could be done until the meeting of the Provincial Council two months hence; at the same time he reminded them that the provincial revenue was not so great now as it had been, as the General Government had absorbed much of their income, but had undertaken several important works in the Grey and Buller districts. The deputation then withdrew. At three o'clock on the same day a deputation of miners, introduced by Mr O'Conor, waited upon the Superintendent, and presented a short address, in which they stated that they heartily welcomed him to this part of the Nelson Southwest Goldfields, and hoped that he would never have occasion to regret his visit to Inangahua. His Honor thanked the deputation for their visit, and the kindly terms in which the address was couched. In speaking of the Goldfields Regulations, he acknowledged that they did not suit all parts of the Nelson Goldfields, for hitherto there had been no quart/, workings. Ho pointed out the difficulties of placing the goldfields on the

suine footing as the settled districts in the matter of representation in tbe Provincial Council; for a district thickly populated to-day might, in the course of a few months or so, have become almost deserted, or a district thinly populated might suddenly be found to contain a largo number of inhabitants; and as Inangahua was an example of the latter, he saw no reason why increased representation should not be granted them. His Honor after touching upon the subject of leases, roads, &c, stated that he did not think the General Government after this year would have any large sums available for public works, and in future the people would lfiive to depend chiefly upon the province. He concluded by saying that a report had been industriously circulated that he had no belief in miuing enterprise, that statement he most emphatically denied, knowing that the future prosperity of the Province depended upon its mineral wealth. Jn answer to Mr Drury on the various subjects of roads, permanent wardeu, increased representation, the establishment of Mining Boards, &c, the Superintendent replied by stating that a permanent warden had been appointed, as well as a permanent clerk ; that the published reply of the Provincial Government would explain everything relative to leases ; that the matter of Mining Boards was too long to enter into on the present occasion. Speaking of the contemplated hospital he said that he would ascertain from general information the most saitable position. The deputation, then withdrew.

Shortly after this a deputation of leaseholders and others in favor of leases being granted conditionally waited upon his Honor, denying that leases had been applied for with a view to monopoly and ultimate speculation, as in every instance the person whose name appears in the application for a lease is merely a representative of a company, comprising a number of shareholders. To which the Superintendent briefly replied, assuring the deputation that their address should be duly considered, and the government would do all in their power to prevent in future the inconvenience from delay in dealing with lease applications. This closed the business of the day.