The Invercargill Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 104, 21 October 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1863.

From the glimpse we caught of the Estimates, it appears that the existence of Riverton is not totally ignored ; and . at first sight it might appear that a liberal proportion of the expenditure for the ensuing year had been apportioned to that part of the Province, more particularly if one views the sums set down towards making* the various roads connecting Riverton with Invercargill and the interior. We see that a larger sum is placed on the Estimates towards making the road from the Otoutnu north, than from Invercargill to the Mataura, both most important, roads *. and that the sums put down for keeping open the communication via Wallacetown and the Bay Bush are pretty liberal. Rapid as has been the strides which Invercargill has made within the last eight months, River-; ton has adv inced very nearly as rapidly. We had the advantage by at least a year's start, and when the first wave of the flood-tide reached us, it found us a pretty go id sized lown with a tolerable population, possessing all the germs of vitality. Riverton, little more than twelve months ago, was a small village with one street, and that not too thickly built on, nor was there any cause to complain that the population was too dense at South Riverton. Now the scene is entirely changed. Riverton has become an important seaport town. Buildings have sprung up in all directions, the streets are now recognizable*as such, the amount of business transacted, not only at. private stores, but public offices (sue*}', as the Post Office and Custom House), speaks of energetic life ; and the settled population very considerable. It boasis of a steam saw mill, and vessels trading direct with Australia ; ancl, in fact, possesses within itself all the elements of a lasting prosperity. We think the time has arrived when Riverton should have the benefit, if such it is, of a Town Board, and that Board be placed in such a position as regards facilities for borrowing money, as to enable it to be an institution beneficial to the inhabitants. It may be questioned whether a Town Board is that unmixed blessing which the uninitiated might imagine t whether indeed bringing the Town Board Ordinance into operation at Riverton, is not the severest blow which the Government could deal to the inhabitants of that town ; be this as it may, it is not unnatural that they should wish to manage their own affairs, and fancy they can do so better thun the Government. In any ; case the responsibility will rest with themselves, and tbat responsibility, we understand, they are wHlmg to assume ; to enable them to do so, it will be necessary either to have a Riverton Town Board Oidinance passed during the present session, or bring into operation, as regards -that place, the Town Board Ordinance, passed at the last session of the Council, for In- , vercargill. We presume the Government would offer no opposition to the' adoption of this course ; it rests therefore, for the members for Riverton to bring forward the subject. Should such an Ordinance be passed to enable the Town Board to t.ke immediate action under it, a sum ought to be placed on the '. estimates as a loan to that body, as was done for the Town Board here, so ; that something may be done, before winter sets in, towards making the footpaths in the principal streets, and keeping them in good repair. If this be not done., before the assent of the Governor could be obtained to the Town Board Bill, the Board elected, and the rates levied, the summer will have passed away, and Riverton will be worse off than ever. The Municipal property ought also to be handed over to them as soon as possible, which, under the ** Municipal Endowment Ordinanep, 1862,'' will be done so soon - as a Board is in existence. Although for the present, all our energies are required to construct the railroad from Invercargill to Winton in the direct line, we do not despair of seeing a branch to Riverton direct ; the sudden increase in Customs' Revenue from the Port of Riverton ; the large tract of rich land lately thrown into Hundreds in the Jacob's River districts, -coupled with the very considerable land revenue already derived therefrom, warrant us in claiming this for Riverton as a right, putting "aside the extent of country such a line would open up, ' country which is being rapidly popu- \ lated and brought under cultivation. Pending the construction of this line, '■ we trust the Government will strain every nerve to make N the Bay Bush road viable before winter sets in. We have been compelled by the arrival ftf fche English mail, and the consequent rush of news to give the details of the late Sittings of the Pro vincial Council with greater brevity than would otherwise have been tho case. The valuable evidence of the < hief Sur vej-or upon the subject of I tram roads, which was last night adduced before ? the House, is inter alia precluded. Matters of local interest arc also held over.