“HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?”

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 135, 12 September 1868, Page 4

“HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?”

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Mu. Editor, People are beginning to grumble a little 1 see at the present state of things in this province, and the dead stand-still things have come to in the shape of Government—if we may call it a Government —in which the stuff of officials are kept up, but no money even to pay them their salaries, much less to carry on any public works of any kind. Is it not quite time that the inhabitants made a move for a change ? What is our Superintendent doing ? Is there any chance of his trying to make the Government machine move along, or has he not the power ? “ A Partner.” in your contemporary, may well ask what the Superintendent is doing ; and “ Wellington Gossip’’ says he is doing very little, and it appears ho is powerless to do anything for us ; if such is tiie fact, let us make an effort to do something for ourselves. If 1 am rightly informed, the Gei eral Government have pass-d an Act to construct, and keep in repair roads ami bridges all over the Polony, which Act, I presume, will soon come into operation, and 1 trust «ve shall then be able to get to eacli other at distances of a few miles apart without the risk of Inmaking our necks, or our carts, or being drowned, (hind roads is a thing we very much want, hut 1 think we ought, to have a heifer understanding as In how we are to be governed in future, and at. what expense? It appears to mo that the present system should he done away with in this province at any rate, for this reason : —Pietnn and (he Kaikoura have botli petitioned the General Government to form them into Counties, and I undeistand them is every pi obability ol their prayers being granted. Now, if such should he the case, I can see no alternative but for the remaining portion to be formed into something similar. I would ask—What will tie the use of a Commissioner of Crown Lands, when most of the available land for sale will bo either in the Picton division or the Kaikoura? In fact, it would be very much better for the General Government'to either let ns return into the Nelson province, or cut up the province into about three districts, taking all the Customs, Police, Hospitals, and Jails under its own care, and pay for them out of the General He venues of the Colony. One Commissioner ot Crown Lands would do (or nearly all the provinces with a subordinate staff in the districts, something on tlie same plan as the Post-office and Customs; one Commissioner ot Police, with subs. ; one general Penitentiary for the whole . with Lock-ups in the distiicts, &e., &c. It is quite certain this province cannot go on as it is, and I think the General Government would be glad to adopt any reasonable change that the people might suggest or request. It rests then with the settlers, the inhabitants, the electors, to rouse themselves from their state ol apathy, and if they would have freedom ot action, at any rate to express clearly and plainly their views and wishes, I propose then the inhabitants should hold a meeting and devise some plan, and propose it to the Central Government.

“ Beggars must not be choosers,” is an old saying. We cannot choose, but we can express our wishes, and if reasonable wo might obtain. We must not expect our Supei intendent to do much for us, as he is unable, and looking out too much for number one —that most important and powerful number, i say then, let us be up and doing. Blenheim, November 11th, 1868. L.