PROVINCIALISM.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1209, 8 September 1874, Page 2

PROVINCIALISM.

[iXAXCiAIIL'A HERALD.] The news of the downfall of Provincialism in the North Island has been received here with expressions of congratulations from tho majority of our residents, who, as a mining and an agricultural have had quite sufficient experience of the present misrule, and would be glad to see politics thinned down to something more definite and advantageous to the public weal. Iq the first instance, our land laws are &o complicated as to puzzle anyone how to take up and occupy the

smallest patch of ground ; and, again, although the Government derive a considerable revenue from this district, which was only but a short time ago an obscure and unproductive corner of (he Province, nothing has been clone to aid devclopomcnt, nor to assist individual enterprise. The deplorable state of the country for want of branch road com munication has been so often brought into notice by private representations, and by the Press, with such little effect that were it not for the renewal of certain small parchments, for which we exchange £3, £5, or £2O, as tenures to patches of ground or for the transaction of business, we would hardly think that Provincial Government existed at all. For the last two sessions of the Provincial Council sums have been placed on tho Estimates- for the construction of roads to Boatman's and Larry's, but beyond these mere promises we are allowed to trudge through as much mud and mire as ever, with the same impediments to traffic; and with regard to the transport of heavy machinery to work our reefs ; individual enterprise has grappled with many difficulties, and has effected what only a goldfields community could accomplish. As an instance, it deserves to be mentioned that over twelve months ago the Just in Time and Fiery Cross Companies at their own expense constructed the only road we have from Capleston to the reefs, a distance of about one mile. The cost of construe tion amounted to some £IOO or £oOO, although at the time these companies were under very heavy expenses in connection with the developement of their claims, supplying machinery, &c, and could ill afford one fraction towards a work of that description. It used to be and still is customary in some parts of the Colony to subsidise such useful public works when executed by private individuals. The road is very nearly wide enough for dray traffic, and it is as good to-day as when it was first made. The journey to the reefs is performed in one hour and a half less time than by the old track over the hill, and had it been constructed by Government the work could not have been better executed, although, no doubt, the cost would not have been less than £IOOO. Provincialism in this quarter has achieved nothing to its credit, and as soon as the tide of reformation sets in this direction, it will be hailed with general satisfaction.