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

Westlaxd has passed through sever. 1 stages. First it wa3 a part of the Province of Canterbury, .and it is a pity it ever ceased to be so ; thea it became n special subject for a new experiment in government, the first stages of which were watched over^by the paternal care of a Cabinet Minister, the Hon. John Hall ; then it was left to its own resources, unfettered by anything except by the penalty it had to pay for separating from Canterbury; now, after struggling along somehow as a sort of a political bastard, it has reaqhed the status of a full blown Province, with a Superintendent and the other usual accompaniments. The kit change may be useful, inasmuch as it terminates the anomalous position in which this part of the Colony was .placed, and puts it upon an equal footing in regard to it 3 selfgoverning . powers with the rest of the divisions of the Colony. But when one remembers thaj; the new Province has to commence its life with a terribly stinted

allowance, of aliment, unless the Colony j comes forward as wet nurse, and that Canterbury— which is drawing from its offshoot some ten or twelve thousands a year as a contribution to the interest of moneys borrowed for works constructed in Oanterburyv and which have enormously increased the value of its public estate— is absolutely rolling in wealth, it becomes a question whether it would, not. have been wiser to have remained as we were in 1867, and not have madly rushed into the responsibilities of independence. Here's a comparison : The great question which the Provincial Council of Westland will have to consider will be, how to find the ways and means for carry ing. out the functions of government, and providing for works of urgent necessity. On the other hand, in the Provincial Council of Cantsrbury the other day, Mr Maude, the Secretary of Public Works, in moving the Cuucil into Committe.fi of Supply, thus described the ' position of affairs in that Province. He said that the estimates which the Council had before it, provided for the expenditure of £110,225 on buildings, £158,200 on bridges, on roads, £30,360 on works and various objects under the head of Miscellaneous, £7050 for grants in aid, 10s for distribution amongst Road Boards. .£20,000 for immigration purposes, for railways and works in connection therewith, and £174,150 for harbor works : making a total of £764,371 lOi, involving a veiy considerable bill, and one to which it was intended to add a further amount on the supplementary estimates. Large as tlm sum was, he was in the happy position to say that the Provincial Treasurer had assured him that he was piepared to find all the funds wanted both to carry out the liabilities at present existing and to engage upon such further expenditure as might be proposed. Probably Ibe Canterbury Council will vote for matters entirely outside ordinary departmental expenditure, close upon a million sterling this year ; whilst poor Westland, as a sort of Micawber of the Provinces must dodge, give bills, and borrow money in order to get on at all. One thing this contrast affords, and that is : a strong argument for the resettlement of the Canterbury debt, if such a thing is possible.