SEPARATION FROM NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 474, 6 March 1869, Page 2

SEPARATION FROM NELSON.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sib, —"Would that we had nothing more than the late hot weather to hlame for the slow progress we seem to be making in the question of Separation, which, in spite of feeble opposition and of desertion, we need not despair of bringing to a satisfactory conclusion. The great Q-ladstone says, " Change of opinion in those to whose judgment the public looks more or less to assist its own, is an evil to the country " Tet the chairman of the Progress Committee, after all he has Baid in favor of Separation, is ready to cry out " The craft is in danger." Shadows foretell coming events. If we get Separation, good laws and practical Wardens must of necessity follow, and the inhabitants of the county, especially the miners, will be able to follow their callings without so much of the wig and robe business. But the chairman should also bear in mind that, unless we get Separation, this district

will soon be reduced, by the mismanagement of the Nelson Government, to the abject condition of Collingwood, so ably described by " Minority " in your paper the other day. What can bring back vitality to Collingwood now ? Not all the fees and salaries paid in it. Then what does the policy of the Nelson Government tend to but turning the prosperity of her goldfields to the advantage of the squatter and farmer around the seat of Government, and to bring desolation on her miniug communities ? Then let the fate of Collingwood be a warning to us, not to let the valuable present slip, but to lend a hand to establish a form of government that will secure the greatest good to the greatest number, and keep a district so full of natural resources from again lapsing into the state of a wilderness. There is a tide in the affairs of a country which, if taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. On such a tide are we now afloat, with Westland as a beacon. We may sail into the realms of freedom, leaving Nelson to govern 5 herself well, which is more than she I can manage. Sir, the injustice of a | community of freemen being governed I by a community whose character may 1 be gathered from the decision of that 1 memorable jury which sat at Nelson a few months ago needs no comment. Did we wish to put them in the same position to us as we are to them, then might they have strong grounds of objection, although there is no doubt we should govern them more ably and conscientiously than they govern us. But all we ask is to govern ourselves, I and with our own revenues develop the resources of the district to the advantage of the whole colony. A County Council could direct the revenue to bring to light the untold wealth of the country —the gold, the coal, the silver, and the copper, which geologists tell us abound, and are now I lying, and may lie, useless, as if there was neither revenue nor Britons in the country. The whole question of Separation resolves itself into this—Will the interests of the inhabitants of New Zealand, as well as of those directly interested, be best served by the revenues t>f the coast being spent in opening up the coast, or by being squandered away to the aggrandizement of the City of Nelson. We could do with a dry dock and with a visit from the young Prince, but we have wanted, we do want, and we may want, things of greater import so long as we are connected with Nelson. It will be much easier to get Separation, and do what we want done ourselves, than ■even explain to their dull apprehension things they cannot and will not understand. Citizen. Caledonia Terrace, Peb. 26. [The foregoing letter was written previous to the last meeting of the Progress Committee.]

THE NELSON LICENSING SYSTEM.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sie, —I have teen resident in this place for a considerable period, and cannot but observe with regret, not to say disgust, how the Licensing Ordinances applicable to this Province are virtually ignored, and set at defiance. The most casual observer, taking a walk through the different streets of our town, cannot but be struck by the name of " hotels" inscribed over the door of every other house in the principal streets! Now what does this mean, and how do all the proprietors and lessees of these so called " hotels" make a living ? Not by legitimate means surely, or else Charleston is brisker than the permanent residenters, or casual visitors, take it to be. On enquiring the other day at a few respectable hotel-keepers, as to the paying nature of their houses, they informed me that "hotel keeping," in the common acceptation of the term in Charleston, was a dis-

grace to any civilized community, inasmuch as any person having a frame with a piece of calico on it, and applying for a license for said frame, the Magistrate would grant it as a matter of course. There ave/lfieen "singlewomen" hotel-keepers in Charleston, and that directly in the face of the Nelson Licensing Ordinances! It would be better, Sir, if the Publicans' License were made or raised to £IOO per annum, instead of the figure it stands at, provided the Government would, (as in duty bound} only grant licenses to houses which might be called " a home for the traveller," and not to common low "tippling houses" or " shanties" and brothels. There are laws, Sir, in every civilized nation, fco keep down immorality and vice, as | much as possible, and we might well I take an example from our old neigh- | hours at home—the French. In this Y Province, however ("righteous Nelson" i - Save the misnomer!) a direct i bribe and encouragement are held out I and offered to immorality, and surely, p m common justice to the poor " waifs I and strays" of humanity themselves, I engaged in the disgusting trafiic or occupation complained of, the laws exi istmg (and which should be in opera|tion in the province) ought to be rigidly enforced. I apologise for bringing this subject under your notice, but I do so from the best of motives, and may state that |f have no interest, either directly or nidireetly, in hotels proper or the reverse. I trust that you will afford these remarks space in the columns of your nex t issue, and also give the subject matter thereof your best attention, and also the powerful advocacy ©1 your pen.

I enclose you (although I write under a feigned name) my full name and address, not for publication, but as a guarantee of my perfect good faith in the matter, and of the verity of the facts, &c, above stated and commented upon.—l remain, yours &c. Excelsioe. Charleston, March 4.

! WARDEN'S COURT DECISIONS. ( To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sib, —It was with much pleasure I observed the letter of your correspondent "Reform" in your columns last week, as it expresses, 1 believe, a very generally felt sense of dissatisfaction with respect to the administration of mining laws in this district. Whilst desirous of bearing testimony to the impartiality and uprightness of the Warden, I affirm that his utter want of practical mining knowledge is a source of great injustice to individuals, and subjects the mining community at lar-e to useless delay, expense, and inconvenienc of parties to the most simple suits. The "Deadman's Creek Race " is but one of many similar inconsistencies, to my own knowledge. But surely the acme of absurdity was reached in a decision lately given, which awarded £2O (twenty pounds,) damages to a tailing-washer for damage (?) done to his claim by the bursting of a dam. I think the remedy for the evils complained of lies in the separation of the offices of Warden and Resident Magistrate, and surely a district of the size and importance of the Buller could support the two functionaries. What we want in a Warden is a man possessed of practical knowledge and decision of character, and not a gentleman of over-refined intellect, perplexed by its own subtlety, however estimable in other capacities.—l am, yours &c. Sluice Box. Caledonia Terrace, March 1.

[We have received several communications on the same subject, but have necessarily declined their insertion. We cannot be expected to publish the complaint of every party to a suit against whom a decision may be given, and who, on that account, considers himself ill-used, and who writes as a man is likely to do under that impression or delusion. The foregoing letter is, however, sufficiently dispassionate, and propounds an idea which may be fairly discussed.]