The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2031, 8 July 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1875.

The formation of a road from Shortland to Tairuais a very important question which seems to have been dropped lately. Whether this arises from indifference, or from the fact that public attention has been absorbed in scrip speculation we cannot say. 1 ""'"lt maybe, however, that Sir George Grey's answer to the deputation which waited; uponrr him may-have had something to do with it. His Honor said plainly'that the: Provincial, Government had no money, and were r therefore powerless'to help us in the matter. But instead of this begetting a feeling of indifference it should have acted: as a spur to some exertion in another direction. •■ The position seems to be that the Provincial Government have not a shilling afc their disposal for special works of this nature, and

the estimated revenue from the goldfield has all been appropriated. What, then, can be done to open communication with Tairua, so that machinery may be transported, is a question which it would be advisable to tacklo manfully and at once. If the necessary money for the formation of a road cannot be obtained from ,tho Provincial chest, it is worth while to'consider whether it can be obtained from any. other source There has been lately a considerable amount of excitement over Tairua, but now that the first blush is over—now that, people '.can.; view ..' the situation quietly and dispassionately, it really becomes a serious question. On what have people been speculating during the last few weeks P On the reputed rich•ness of a few claims* on which there has been little, or no work done, and which, even if proved to be rich beyond the average tif quartz claims, cannot give any returns for months—perhaps years ; certainly not while the district in which these claims are situated is practically shut: out - from machinery; But; these I claims .will have £6 be worked, arid until machinery is placed on the ground it will be all unremunerative work, draining the pockets soft shareholders diverting capital from other sources of investment. ,We a,re almost at a loss to suggest any course'to obviate this very serious difficulty, beyond inviting our public men to tiake "it up, determined to doj something practical. The advisability of asking the General Government to do something has been mooted. They commenced ex--tensive works in thephiriemuri district^ ; biif that irai whileHhe Government, or one of their members, exercised the delel .gated powers. The money so expended is now to be charged against the gold? fields revenue, but it will be decidedly unfair to make it a charge on. the revenue derived from the Hauraki goldfield, which requires - every penny •of its own money for its special wants. The General Government might be asked to do something, and we are inclined to-the belief ; that if the' maUer were' put fairly before .them the necessary assistance might be ' obtained'; 7but failing that, the persons directly interested in Tairua and those likely to be benefited in the future.: will have to & put ; iheir shoulders 'to the wheel with a determination to accomplish' -what is so much required. The prospects of Tairua are rich, even' brilliant; jeveryorig is agreed on that point; but the riches will remain buriedr.unless facilities for getting*; machinery on the ground are afforded. This matter- might well bq taken up by our public men. A road to Tairua is absolutely necessary, and it is for the people of- the 'Thamesto decide how that road Is to be made. If something is not | done very soon a reaction will set in which; will militate seriously, against the future of the Tairua field. There is a 'disposition amongst capitalists 5 to invest; but if there'i's to beno immediate prospect of improvement in the .means of communication, capital w ill be withdrawn and all will 'suffer more or less.;' With| put machinery the richest claims will languish, while large areas of ground 1 yet unproved, although taken up under fair auspices, will have to be abandoned. ■

The utility of Committees in connection with. Legislative Assemblies cannot be over-estimated when employed in certain spheres' of •" action. . The ■•collection and utilization of facts; the arrangement of details; and the capacity, of giving to what at first appears, abstract a concrete and comprehensible, form, to be submitted to .such assemblies, .are -functions they perform in many instances with great advantage. Much valuable time is saved which might otherwise be spent in useless and unprofitable discussion; and matters of consideration, being shorn of thesuperfluitics and ambiguities often surrounding them, are thus rendered more easy, .of disposal. There is, however, a tendency to rely too much upon the reports .of committees. The fact that certain members havo given time and thought to a particular work, and formed definite conclusions, is deemed sufficient in the majority of instances to determine or control the minds of others, and'thus the adoption of their report becomes almost a matter of , course. - Upon: such a large question as the redistribution of the representation of. the polony it becomes a matter of grave consideration whether a Committee of the Assembly presents the most effectual form.of 'dealing with it, even, admitting that their report: and recommendations would be submitted for discussion by the Assembly as a whole. If the above named; deductions are correct, such a - procedure would be doubtful, and the more so that it is questionable. whether a due proportion of the elements necessary, to secure an equitable adjustment would be likely to exist in the minds of the members comprising it. To decide upon a matter so wide and general in its application properly belongs to a government, which, while submitting its "plan to the legislature, should be prepared to concede alterations in minor details, but should stand ; or. : fall upon n "the general issues. The. reasonableness.of this view strikes forcibly upon the mind when it is remembered that a Ministry .is essentially supposed to ect_for. the common good, and to be uninfluenced by local or selfish considerations; and as, with but a few. exceptions, it has been . the rule adopted .by most Governments, with success, the superior utility of committees in determining such a matter demands a stronger support than-mere assertion. In. 1870, when the Representation Bill .was introduced by Mr Eox, the consideration of its details jmd determination of its form was -left to a commiltce of twenty-fivo members, who in their turn formed themselves into a.

number of sub-committees for different districts. The natural consequence of this arrangement was a determination on the part of- each to relinquish nothing saving in. one or two instances, and thus the Thames, being*- completely in the \ hands of the Auckland sub-committee-, chared the fate of other constituencies having similiar claims. Had the Govern, ment of the day conceived and matured a comprehensive plan, there can be no question that our right to a larger share of representation would have been not only .acknowledged but ..provided for. .JCtia to be toped that in any scheme for the readjustment of the representation, , the Q-pverriment will 'assume its legitimate position and submit it to the Assembly; and, if conceived in a spirit of justice arid marked by an impartial regard for wellsettled claims, its acceptation would be certain. We do not advocate an increase of representatives in the Assembly; there .are quite sufficient there already; but we affirm that, a time his arrived when the exigencies and surroundings peculiar to a new country, demand a remodelling of the boundaries of electoral districts throughout ,the;'country:—and this before the; liext general election. Should this be done on a sound and well considered principle, the Thames would unquestionably, secure the additional number |'ep>eseritatives "asked for in -the petition]"adopted at the public meeting on Monday evening.

'Wi! ite- iglad, ta 'see the Neiw Zealand Times coming to the assistance of the Thames in the efforts being made for obtaining increased representation. The telegram published in to-day's issue, from our own* correspondent, will be perused with interest, because it puts the. case fairly, and shows the causes which have' .operated against the claims of the Thames being recognised before nowi iNow fthat jfche jPrefs oMsideJhe district; 'admits the" justice rof the claim, we may hope^that the Parliament will follow suit, and do all in its power to remedy the grievance! under which ; theiThatries has labored. The petition which has been prepared; for theTAssembly willr iet oiit our case plainly and truthfully. The figures which are Embodied havebeeri obiained from public records, jand there will ..be,no gainsaying them. ' "No' effort must be spared: in urging the.prayer..of thftpeti-! tidri, and then we may hope that at the election of the next parliament; the people of this district will be able to exercise that measure of influence which is their right. ' ;