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Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1788, 29 April 1874, Page 2

It is a satisfaction to know that the Superintendent intends to summon the Council in a few days, so that it may deal with the various important subjects that await its decision, before the meeting of Parliament. The great question above all others is that of the financial position of the Province. It is no use concealing the fact that practically the Province is unable out of its ordinary revenue to meet the demands upon it. A loan must be had somehow, and the Council will have to exercise the greatest discrimination in deciding upon the objects of expenditure. The maintenance of the Christchurch road is a matter upon which the Council must express a decided opinion. The Province cannot possibly continue the responsibility of maintaining this road, whilst at the same time it is of great importance that the road should be maintained. The General Government has intimated that it has no funds or any authority for keeping up the only great highway between the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island, and the people of Canterbury appear to think that they could do as well without the road as with it. Then, we say, let them take the risk, and until they are willing to contribute out of their plenty a fair proportion of the cost of maintaining this expensive road, let the Province simply abandon the road altogether. It is impossible that Westland can go on year after year dipping its hands into its purse to keep up a road, the practical advantages of which are altogether with the people of Canterbury. Now that a practicable cattle track has been made from the Amuri, and that aregular cattle traffic with Wanganui has been established by sea, the maintenance of the Christchurch road is a matter of indifference to the whole of the West Coast north of the Teremakau. And it is doubtful if it is necessary to keep open this expensive road for the convenience of our Hokitika neighbors. The old Hurunui track is always available, and even if the overland road was allowed to lapse into a state forbidding coach traffic, cattle would come through somehow. It is simply the cattle traffic that constitutes the value of the road to Westland, everything else is of a colonial character — tho conveyance of mails and so on. The Council can have no other con re to take than simply to refuse to vote any more money for maintaining the road, and leaving the responsibility of keeping up communication between the two coasts upon the Colonial Government.