The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1872

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 970, 14 May 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1872

The agitation now prevailing in the luangahua District, and rapidly spreading through the South West Goldfields, although a cause of disquietude and regret to those who still have some slight confidence in the honesty of purpose of the Superintendent and Ida Executive, cannot fail to prove of much eventual benefit. We have no faith in indiscriminate laudation or blame of any constituted authority, merely as a means to catch the gale of popular favor ; but in the present instance there can only be one expression of opinion. A grievous blunder has been committed, to call it by no harsher name. The administration of the goldfields has been permitted to degenerate into contemptible burlesquc. Common sense, common justice, common prudence, have been alike disregarded, and the partially appeased dissatisfaction prevailing intermittently for some years past, has been wantonly provoked, until it bursts forth with all the bitterness of long pent up feeling. It has seemed good to the powers at Nelson to treat miners after the fashion of meekly submissive children, or beings whose reasoning faculties are but feebly developed. To whom it is but necessary to say you must not do this, or you cannot have that, and the word becomes law, without demur or question. All considerations of justice, expedience, necessity, fostering care, and judicious liberality have been forgotten, and the vagaries of men " dressed in a iittle brief authority," if they have not" made high angels weep, have caused much vexation and tribulation of spirit to indignant mortals. It is just possible that the clamor recently raised by the autileasers, has to some extent influenced the Superintendent and his Executive to arbitrarily exercise their power in reference to the applications for leases ; but the indiscriminate mode of procedure, the lack of any evidences of a regard for equity, or even respect for existing regulations, stamp their action therein as foolish and unbusinesslike in the extreme. The present exeitcmcut on the subject must result in good. Apart from the question of the probabilities of the Colonial Government favorably entertaining the request to takeover control of the South West Goldfields, and annul the delegated powers, now vested in the Superintendent; the whole question of the management of the goldiields, past, present, and prospective, will bo thoroughly ventilated. Fortunately the members of the Provincial Councd are in their places, ready for instant action; and no more important subject awaits their consideration than the amendment of the present unsatisfactory laws relating to the goldfields.