THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1710, 27 January 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1874.

We are glad to find that at least one of the Hokitika papers— the Star — recognises the value of such public meetings as that held here last week, and urges the people of Hokitika to follow the example. But we mueb take exception to some of the comments of our contemporaiy. It, like the Register, assumes that the meeting was of so much, a selfish character as to leal to the opinion that there was not much loyalty here to the Province of Westland a,3 a whole, and that the sole object was to argrandise Gieymouth without any rey;ai:d to the interests of the southern portion of the Province. Both the Star and ths Register have entirely misunderdtnnd the matter. The last named paper hints that Mr Harrison was guilty of an act of discourtesy in having himself convened a public meeting instead of the Mayor of Greymouth, but it evidently forgets that the meeting was called for the consideration of subjects affecting very largely the interests of the country districts outside the Province of Westland. The name of the member for the Grey Valley was affixed to the notice convening the meeting, after a consultation between that gentleman aud the Mayor, and it was thought advisable that in order to avoid the possibility of it being said that the meeting was called in the interests of Greymouth only, the member for the Grey Valley should take the responsibility of convening it. Aud there is no doubt that this course was the wisest one, and helped to secure unanimity of accion on the part of the inhabitants of both Provinces. Our Hokitika friends a!so appear to ignore the fact that Greymouth is commercially aud in other respects less allied to Westland than to Nelson. The whole of the trade of the Nelson Gold-fields in the valley of the Grey and up to Reef ton is with this town, and although there is no disposition on the part of the people of Greymouth to neglect the interests of the Province of Westland generally, it is true that they most desire to encourage the progress and prosperity of the districts with which they are more intimately associated. The Star pays a high compliment to Greymouth and its assumed future, and goes so far as to predict — what is almost now an accomplished fact — thit this town will become the foremost on the coast. It says : — "Without for one moment desiring to foster that narrow spirit of jealousy which runs too high already between tne inhabitants of Greyinoutb and H»kiuka, we cannot be expected to forbear from allu'lms to the clear evidences of a greafc a ul la ti a prosperity near at hand wln'ch the si«h»r town presents. To «n into detail? upon this subject is unnecessary, but to urge up>n those resident here the inevitable result of permitting Greyraouth to make rapid advances while they remain quiesce-it, or ever permit their uiswict to retro^rado, is surely needful. To those vho have acquired an interest in this particular portion of th> country, and who arc unprepared to m.ive fuiihar noith at the first flush of prosperity in that direction, this matter is second to none in impor lance. Unless some further efforts are made here to sustaiu the prestige of Hokitika as chief town, in reality *•« well as name, of the Province, we are convince 1 that the position cannot in the nature o< things remain to her. for many years. With the development of the reefs further north, and an extensive coal trade, as yet scarcely commenced, from tho Grey, we may feel certaiu that a large population will gather in that district, and whatever may be the inequalities of representation for a few yean, there can be no doubt that ultimately population will carry the day. " Our contemporary then proceeds to urije upon its readers the desirability of establishing a "Progress Gommittee" in Ff.<kitika ; and, by saying that, (i unlike t^at lately established at Greyraouth, ifc should not set its aim to segregate itself from the remainder of the Province, and consider the advantage of one portion of Westland only," leads its readers to infer that the Greyraouth people are actuated by purely selfish motives. This is not correct. We are certaiu that any proposal to advance the prosperity of the Pro vines of Westland would receive hearty support in Greymouth, and that should Hokitik.v establish a Committee that of Greymouth would gladly cooperate with it.