The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY MAY 20, 1889.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 117, 20 May 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY MAY 20, 1889.

A series of resolutions were brought forward in the Council last night by Dr. Irvine, affirming the desirability of securing by law to the West Coast the expenditure within its limits of a fixed proportion of the revenue therein collected. Dr Irvine, in a speech of considerable leDgtb, argued that every possible method but that advocated by him, had been tried with a -view to conciliating the inhabitants of our South-west Goldfields, and that all of them had ended in total failure. The Council hacl tried to satisfy them by granting what tliey considered a fair share of the revenue, and they had attempted to bribe them by agreeing that bis Honor should be requested to place ou the Supplementary Estimates everything that was asked for by our iusatiable Western neighbors, hut the more that was conceded to them the more clamorous did they become in their demands. It was therefore clear that they were not to be satisfied by any concessions that we could, in justice to the settled portions of the province, accord to them, and upon this assumption Dr Irvine proceeded to argue that we should by law allot to them a fixed proportion of the revenue derived within their district. But we fear that Dr Irvine is far too sanguine if he supposes for one instant that the agilation for separation, which has spread far and wide on the Western Goldfields of the province, is to be allayed by anything short of that for which the promoters ol the movement are clamoring, and which tliey are determined, if possible, to obtain, no matter what concessions may be made by the Council or Executive. Dr. Irvine said last night that a report was widely circulated on tlie Goldfields that we were appropriating more of their revenue than was really the case. If this be so is it not hoping against hope to suppose that the prime movers in the Separation movement will accept any proposition whatever short of that upon which they bave set their hearts? That however, as Mr. Hennelly said last night, is a question for the General Assembly and not for the Provincial Council to decide, and the only advantage that could possibly be derived from its introduction into the Council, 'was that of allowing Dr. Irvine to afford full explanation of the vote he had given on a previous occassion, when tbe question of separation was under discussion, and for this reason we were glad to find his resolutions on the Notice Paper yesterday; at the same time we think the Council acted wis2ly in shelving them after the mover had delivered his introductory speech. We observe that Mr Donne has placed ou the Notice Paper for to-night resolutions to a similar effect, though differently worded, but wo presume that he will not be permitted to re-open a discussion which the Council, by a large majority, had deemed it advisable to postpone sine die.