The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 952, 25 March 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1872.

The Provincial Council of Nelson will probably meet as usual this year about the end of April. The time is fast approaubiug, and we naturally turn our attention to the business likely to engage tbe Council during the coming session. The matter which is likely to prove of most importance to the Gold Fields will be the Bill introduced according to promise by the Superintendent, which is to give us a form of local administration in the shape of District Road Boards. How are to be formed so as to ensure complete efficiency, is a matter which requires some thought. Although it is rather late to do so, we shall be glad if the public have an opportunity of discussing the merits of the Government proposals before they are introduced to the Council. If the Bill is seriously meant to be a measure of public utility, it is easy to see that no more certain means could be adopted to secure that end, than by evoking discussion upon it before it is made law. Considering the very insufficient and inapt representation which the Gold Fields obtain in Council, the Executive would not be discharging their duty to the country did they not give the people themselves an opportunity of deliberating upon a measure which, if properly constituted, might become a powerful lever for the advancement of this part of the Nelson Province. Great stress has been laid by our representatives in the Colonial Legislature upon tbe fact that one of the greatest evils perpetrated by the Nelson Provincial Government upon us, next to that of appropriating to other uses revenue which should have been set apart for expenditure upon the Gold Fields, was that the miserable dole accorded to us was often bestowed so injudiciously as to result in a complete waste of money. Innumerable instances have been adduced in support of this, which it would be useless for ud to repeat; they are " familiar as household words." The remedy recommended by our representatives is the establishment of Local District Boards j they argued that local knowledge and interest would at least be a safeguard against any idle and wasteful expenditure off

the reveuue. As a step in this direction they succeeded in having a fixed share of the Middle Island railway allotted to us, to be expended directly by the General' Government uncontrolled by Provincial authorities. The wisdom of this action is generally acknowledged, and the main road from the Buller to the Grey River, which is now being made, will remain the proof; but there is something more to be done, for they also obtained for us three-eleventlis of Hie Nelson provincial share in the grant to lload Boards, which share has been set apart for Read Boards to he formed on the Gold Fields. This we must also secure ; and we hope to gain help in doing so from the KoadDistricts Bill. The question of taxing ourselves must not be allowed to remain as a bugbear ; for although we are already sufficiently inflicted with the (burden of taxation, yet we cannot exist without roads. Let us have our District Bor.rds, it will be a step in advance ; and then, we must endeavor to follow up the advantage by pressing forward the sale of available agricultural and pastoral lands in order that the proceeds may be devoted to works necessary to progress, and the prosperous settlement of the country.