THE PELORUS TO WIT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1079, 16 November 1878, Page 7

THE PELORUS TO WIT.

There are probably no people m New Zealand upon whom experience has more forcibly impressed the truth of Swift's well-known remark — " Blessed are those who expecb nothing, for they can't be disappointed," than the inhabitants of the Pelorus District. From the time the Province of Marlborough first came into existence till it was finally extinguished by the Act at the Assembly, neglect and injustice at the hands of its rulers is the story they have to tell. By Council after Council was money placed on the Estimates for the making of their roads, but by Superintendent after Superintendent, and Executive after Executive were these votes disregarded, and the money taken elsewhere to be wasted, m order that some clique influential at the time might be appeased. Even when compelled by necessity, grudgingly and unwillingly some small portions of the public money were allowed to find their way here, the much greater care taken to insure some hanger-on of the Government pickings therefrom than to see that all was properly expended, often left the place little better off when a contract was completed than it had been before the work was commenced. It is no wonder that the proposal to abolish Provincialism found favour here ; it might bring about a change, and no change could be otherwise than for the better. Such was the simple view taken. For a time there seemed, to be reason for congratulation, the Rai Valley tramway project was on the board when the Province came to an end ; money was placed on the Estimate's for its construction, a survey was commenced, and the blessings of the inexpectant state began to give way to the "pleasures of hope." Soon, however, it. manifested itself that the old style was not to be so readily ..disturbed, the money asked from Parliament with the assurance that it would suffice to complete the work it was found would carry the line somewhere short of Oanvastown, instead of to its

termination m the Rai. There was -a hitch followed by a pause, till the project stepped across the Pelorus river from the south to the north bank without however a '■' God speed it" from the dwellers on the former. Another short period of seeming activity, then another delay, so loDg, so dreary, so unaccountable, all faith had died, when suddenly out it burst again, appa? rently more full of life than ever, but once more all were deceived ; it was but the dying struggle of the live bait ; Parliament met and the people of the Pelorus learned the lessou, Ministries can fish for support as. well as Superintendents or Executives. Need it be a subject for surprise that the settlers of this district sympathised. nob with those who set up a whine when the Atkinson Ministry was replaced by the Grey ? . Or that when m Nelson and Picton that whine became a howl. On the appearance of the Public Works Statement they did not join chorus j but shrutrged their shoulders philosophically, remarking — "We got nothing from the others j we can't get less from these." When on bis return from the Road Board after its last meeting the member for the Pelorus Valley announced to his neighbours that a letter from the Public Works Office had been received by the Chairman*, stating "that the Minister will be willing to take into consideration that part of your letter of the Ist of September which relates to your reqiiest for assistance towards completing the main road through the Pelorus and Kaituna Valleys" the general astonishment is not easily described. There is a story told of; a French priest who on being asked for alms replied, "Alas I have nothing to give," but putting his hand mechanically into his pocket as he ■poke, and finding thure some coins, as he handed them to the suppliant he concluded a miracle ; the subsequent discovery that he had unwittingly appropriated another man's breeches left the good man m doubt whether he had not a right to remove the circumstance from the region of the supernatural and accredit it to a mistake. In a somewhat similar state of perplexity has the Ministerial letter left those most deeply interested m its contents ; a little reflection will however show that though this letter winds up with a warning that "it is not to be construed into the Minister making any promise," there is more reason to hope that something will be done for the district than there was when lavish promises were freely made. In the first place' it ib a member of a mioistry supported by a strong majority m Parliament who writes ; secondly his letter arrives after the close of a session, when members have no longer to be courted and votes were not required ; and thirdly, it is an indication that the Government meant to carry out its declared policy of expending money m those districts where there are still unsold remnants of the national estate, m order to give the public property an increased value. The Road Board has been requested to supply certain necessary information, and should the subsidy spoken of be granted it will be the medium through which the money will be expended. It is to be hoped that the Board will realise the importance of the situation m which it is placed, everything now depends on the way m which it responds to this call ; there is ho district m New Zealand better entitled to assistance, and none that will repay the country better for the help it may receive. 4 Laying as it does m the very heart of the colony it is only the history of Nelson and Marlborough misrule that can account for its not being long ago opened up and settled. This has a right to be shown. The visionary folly of attempting trunk lines of railway, and the basing the claims of the district on its being the road between the city of -Nelson and the town of Blenheim, not only brought nothing, it made the place look ridiculous. What is required is to set forth honestly and clearly ita resources, and what it will take to develop them, . regarding the Government as a private individual, point out, as can be done, that the making of these roads would be a good commercial speculation, besides a great convenience to the I general public. Taking the matter up m this way, if the members of the Road Board will show that they are willing to co-operate with the Minister, and are not influenced by the rumour circulated by the disappointed upholders of the. Opposition, should their endeavours prove unsuccessful they will at least be able to come before their neighbours and say it is not our fault. .. - COTTJRNINT.