The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WENDESDAY, MARCH 11, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 191, 11 March 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WENDESDAY, MARCH 11, 1868.

In a little while the Nelson Government will have to lament in a greatly diminished revenue, the suicidal policy they have followed in relation to the development of its resources. In almost every instance has it thrown obstacles in the way of the miner and the mining interest, and have grudged every pound spent upon opening up the country, while it has uniformly re--1 tarded and opposed any measure having for itsjobject the amelioration of the condition of the mining class. No colony or province m the Southern Hemisphere has had so many constituent features in it to make a great and rich locality than has the Nelson South West G-oldfields, yet nowhere have the developement of those resources been so persiutenly neg-

lected and retarded. The policy of th 3 Provincial Q-overnment towards the milling community seem to be, "If you want anything done, do it yourself; and when you have done it, we will step in and reap the reward." But it is not within the powers of human nature to stand this very long ; audi accordingly, when the miners see that no help is apportioned to them in their efforts to develope the resources of the Province, they become disgusted, and, on the first

opportunity hasten to leave a province that behaves to them in such a manner. The question naturally arises—what is the Provincial Government doing for the mining community ? —and the answer comes readily, " Nothing—simply nothing!" "lis true they commenced to make tracks, in order to open up the rich mineral district of the Buller, but they stopped short before they had finished the work, and the consequence was that the whole was rendered of no avail, and a sum of money expended in vain. But this was done at a time when the Nelson Government were disposed to be liberal to a certain extent, during which they allowed money to be wasted and fooled away, in the construction of works which even the most shortsighted could not but help seeing would prove totally inadequate for the purpose required. It is well-known that the mainstay of Westport are the Caledonian diggings, and yet how has the Nelon Government treated the miners of this locality? They have not even gone to the expense of constructing a track, much less a road, but have allowed it to be done by private enterprise, in return for which the constructor is authorised to charge a most exorbitant toll. In bridging rivers the same policy is carried out—the only thing done to promote the welfare of a district, being to grant protection to some fortunate speculator, with the right to charge excessive tolls. What has the Government done relative to prospecting the country ?—and again the same reply of " Nothing" meets us. In all mining districts, aid should be, and very often is, held out to the prospector in the shape of rewards for successful discoveries, or a certain amount of aid furnished in fitting out prospecting parties ; and this policy is very often carried out privately, and prospectors are sent out at the expense ot particular towns; but nothing_ of the kind has ever been attempted in Westport, the inhabitants seem to be too apathetic, too much imbued with the spirit of the government under which they exist, to bestir themselves in a matter of such vital importance to themselves, and the consequence is that the miner has no heart to prosecute any researches, and at the first news of another goldfield, rushes away, only too glad to get away from such an unsympathetic and apathetic body of people, where every obstacle is thrown in the way of his advancement. _ Even in regard to rules for his guidance, his Avishes are opposed inevery conceivable manner, and he is told that his application for a Mining Board will be opposed, because it does not meet with the approval of some official connected with the Government. Perhaps when it is too late, not only the Nelson Government, but the inhabitants of Westport will awake from tbeir dream, and endeavour to repair the evil they are at present aiding in perpetrating.