THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, AUGUST to, 1858.

Colonist, Issue 88, 24 August 1858, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, AUGUST to, 1858.

It was our good fortune a few weeks ago to be enabled to call the public attention to an act which we considered not only praiseworthy, but prompt and judicious. We wish that that good fortune would attend us in all the remarks which we feel it our duty to make with regard to the management of public matters by the Provincial Government. There are times arid seasons when an extra attention should be paid to the wants of those who, for the time being, are inhabitants of the Province; and as the rumoured value of our gold diggings has brought many to Nelson, who, if not successful, must depend upon other and extraneous means of support—should it be found that in this colony there are now those who would willingly accept a clay's wage for a day's work—some provision should be made for the furnishing them with labor, which, while beneficial to themselves as. individuals, would also be of great and lasting advantage to the Province generally. It is not for us resident here to see strong arms and honest men leaving our settlement, when public works might be carried on which would detain amongst us those most calculated to actually benefit a town or province. The whole district has been brought into its present state of advancement by hard toil; and those whose capital is their daily labor should be encouraged to remain amongst us. It may be stated, and with a certain degree of truth, that the Provincial Government has not hitherto been in a sufficiently monied position to lead any assis-, tance to public works. It will be our duty now to consider whether they are still in such a position, and as to whether there are now lying in the Bank, funds at their disposal, or as to whether funds could not by their means be placed there, which might be gradually spread over a series of improvements under their direction. A question has often been asked by the public, which is, What, are the Government doing ? and it has been conclusively answered by a reference to their Passbook at the bank. At the present time a surplus is their most probable state, from having sold .£SOOO of land, also there is the pro" bable refund of Mr. Eobinson's ,£IO,OOO deposit for land at the Amuri; and we find that in an Acb of the Province of Nelson, Session the fifth, A. D. 1858, our Government has been authorised to raise £29,000 in debentures, part of which has already been taken up by the bank in Sydney. Amongst other estimates brought forward in schedule B, we find, Erection of Public Offices, £2350 ; Lunatic Asylum, £500 ; Roads, Bridges, and Ferries at Massacre Bay, £500; Landing Place and Road at Riwaka, £350; which, after a number of items for road works deducted from £29,000, leaves, taking in a general sum of £3350 for public works not particularised, an amount of £7050. So, with an amount of work costing by the shewing of their own estimates as our guide, there are £7050 worth of work which is considered necessary for the proper development of the resources of the Province.

There are certain seasons of the year when labor is to be had at a low rate, and the very fact.that such labor can be made use of, is sufficient to prove that general and private works are in abeyance. If there be skilled workmen amongst us—and that there are such we need not find evidence of, surely the time for Government to begin its operations is when it can command their services. It is a benefit which tells doubly, for money-lying idle is almost the same as useless, and that expended in developing the resources of the labor market is a benefit to not only he who earns the money, but the society amongst whom it is expended. One of the highest authorities we have, namely, Alison's History of Europe, says that money expended amongst the working classes sooner finds its way into the public treasury than money used in any other form. The very increase in earnings will necessitate an increased outlay ; and we should find that not only from the Customs, but from the land sales there would be a larger return. Another consideration, and which is of full value in such a matter, is, that at the present time timber, much of which must necessarily be used in the works we have spoken of, is. at a lower price than usual. A saving of even a small percentage 'is* considered by English merchants a matter to be taken advantage of. Surely then, a Provincial Government in their accumulative wisdom should think it a point to be attended to.

Let us now fairly take into consideration a subject of the highest importance to aIL Is the settlement really and truly progressing ? And would not a more energetic management of its affairs conduce to it. The history of all new countries shews us that energy is repaid trebly, aye, fourfold ; and we must leave no means unused which we can fairly turn into account to promote our own benefit. We find that hardly a vessel leaves the Collingwood diggings but that it contains amongst its list of passengers some who have been fortunate and some unfortunate. Let it be then at; once not only the duty, but the desire of those who have the management of this Province in their hands, to find labor for the unemployed. They have, we are assured, the means; let not then the inclination be wanting. There is a kind of half slumber which many political holders of office possess—the very ease of their seats seems to induce such, a morbid lethargy. But they must and should remember that those who have the power to benefit, commit a double error when they neglect their duty. They have indeed their own positions to answer before the public whom they represent; and they have a still graver and higher account to answer. They are the representatives not only of their own interest (and we could pass them by unnoticed were that all that they neglected), but they are also the authorised organ of a great and increasing province; and on their heads must, to a great amount, lay the odium or credit of being the promoters of benefits, or the idle holders of talents which they bury in tlie ground, until a voice which will break even their slumbers, compels them to refund them to otlier and more profitable servants.

Public meetings have been called to consider the way in which public matters have been conducted, and where we thought judgment and caution had been used, none so ready as ourselves to uphold those measures. They might again be called when we coulJ not feel it our duty to defend or our place to protect; and should that lethargy to which to which we have alluded prevail, we might be the first to call some public manifestation of opinion upon those who would let the real life blood of this Pro. vince—the hard-working and honest artizans — leave our port to seek a home where, when private endeavours were unsuccessful, the Government would use their acknowledged ability for its own benefit and their advantage.

The White Swan.—We regret that in this publication of our journal we, are unable to give any information as to the whereabouts of this missing steamer. From the knowledge which we possess of the power of her engines, and the general capabilities of the vessel, we feel sure that accident has not caused its detention. One of two causes will, we imagine, be found to have made her so " long expected." The first would be constrained residence till the next spring tides on the mud flats of Maiuikau harbor; and the second, an attendance upon the members of the General Assembly. It lias so often been our <rood fortune to hear' Auckland news via New South Wales, that we anxiously expect our next mail from Sydney to give us some hint as to where our White Swan may be at:pre.3ent located. Young Men's Biblical Association, "Richmond.— The Mechanics' Institution being now open, the first lecture in connection with this Association was delivered on Thursday last, the 19th instant, by Dr. Greenwood. The subject of " The Early Christians " was treated in the lecturer's usual masterly way, but owing to the evening being wet, and the roads bad, the audience was not so large as might have been expected.