WEST COAST MISCONCEPTION

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1055, 18 March 1873, Page 4

WEST COAST MISCONCEPTION

The 'Colonist* of the 7th instant, contains the following significant article- We submit it for the perusal of our render* > — " Most of the difficulties that have arisen between Nelson and the West Coast, apart from the inaction of the Provincial Government, can be traced to a want of mutual understanding between the people of the several divisions. While the representatives of the settled districts have at all times shown a readiness, amounting it might be fairly said to eagerness, to concur in any well considered scheme calculated to advance the interests of the mining community, the complete neglect by a Superintendent, elected chiefly by Nelson voles, to make propositions for local government and expenditure on the goldfielda has led their inhabitants to believe, that the inertness of the Government has been approved of by the people of Nelson, and that they would combine to maintain Mr Curtis in office because thev favor his policy. The Greymouth 'Star' says of Mr Curtis, " he is the idol of Nelson City proper, and the settled districts." Our contemporary may be assured that, of all the misconceptions he ever entertained, this is the farthest removed from the truth. Anxi< u-! to advaueo the prosperity of the whole province, and we frankiy say, to maintain its integrity, a large majority of the people on this side are no less determined than those of the West Coast that Mr Curtis shall never again be elected Superintendent. Neither patty spite, nor personal illwill has served to bring about this resolution. It is based on a settled conviction, that under his rule, no real attempt is made to do am thing more than tide over temporary troubles and soothe local complaints. In short, the evil of being governed by one who lets all things drft without any effort at guidance, a d witnesses unmoved the decay of all industrial interests, r.nd the rapid departure of the most useful part of the population, is felt to bo vastly greater than could possibly spring from the election of an active, if nat infallible chief, whoso honest'

impulses would certainly 5 land him right at last. Many of those who are now .determined 5 to effect a change, were formerly among the warmest supporters of Mr Curtis, and rather in sorrow than in anger, have been brought to the conclusion that his reign must be ended. Personally their friendly feelings are unchanged, and they would prefer that he should retire gracefully from a position which he has pro\ed himself incompetent to fill, rather than he should embitter opposition by again contesting an election, certainly at great cost to himself and with no hope of auy other result than ignominious defeat. At Charleston, recently, Mr Curtis informed a meeting that a new scheme of Government is in preparation for the Gold fields, dividing them into districts, and allotting for expenditure, by a board to be elected in each, a certain proportion of their revenue, but that the full scheme is not worked out yet. It is not said whether Mr Curtis also told his hearers, as we now tell our Greymouth contemporary, that a Bill for creating the Nelson South.west Goldfields into a county, still connected with Nelson, and with control of its own revenue, was brought forward in the House of Representatives by Mr A. S. Collins, who sat for the City of Nelson in the Provincial Council, and that Mr. J. Shepherd, who represents Waiinea South in that body, gave notice of a Bill to effect, among other objects, the division ot the Goldfields into counties, and securing to them revenue for local purposes, his propositions being based on the Counties Ordinance ot Otago. Both Bills were withdrawn late in the session, in consequence of the accumulation of business caused by the protracted debate on Mr Stafford's resolutions, and from the want of agreement among the West Coast members. It is cot necessary at present to discuss the merits or defects of these proposals ; they are, however, sufficient to show that the Nelson people and their representatives are fully alive to the pressing necessity of an alteration behig made in the West Coast management. Though Mr. Curtis, alter sis years of utter inaction, may now adopt the plans of others to aid him in his desperate struggle for a renewal of his lease of office, the settled districts will not waver in their determination to effect a change, nor do we believe the West Coast electors will be deluded by this deathbed repentance to forego the accomplishmerit of their settled purpose Better far than doubting each other would it be for the muring and agricultural communities to put away all jealousies, and unite their forces to secure the return of a Superinten lent, who is not affiicted with "invincible ignorance*' of popular wants, and who would actively and resolutely exert himself to make the Province of Nelson, what by nature it is formed to be, one of the first, instead of what it is now, one of the last in the Colony.