The Westport Times. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 504, 15 May 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1869.

We prefer to withhold from this column an article which we had written on the subject of the Separation movement at Greymouth, so as to refer to a matter more local, if less magnificeut. Reference has recently been made, by correspoudeuts and otherwise, to the necessity for a Warden, or a partial representative of such an officer, at the Lyell and Upper Buller. In consequence of reductious iu the Provincial service this is a consummation which is not likely to be so soon attained. Hitherto—at least for the past three months— a constable has been periodically despatched up the Buller for the purpose of issuiug miners' rights and taking applications for water-races, &c, thus saving to the miners the expense and loss of time in coming to town. It appears that the Chief Inspector of Police at Nelson has discovered this, and he probably thinks that if a constable can be spared up the river from his station, he can be spared altogether. Yesterday instructions were sent to Mr Eranklyn to transfer one man to the Grey, thus leaving Westport and the surrounding district with the large police force of one sergeant and one constable! We believe that Dr Giles has several times urged upon the Government the necessity existing for some official being stationed at the Lyell, but, if we may judge from the amount of consideration given to them, it would appear as if applications received at the Superintendent's office in Nelson having for their object some benefit to the miners or storekeepers of this important district, usually find their way into the waste - basket. We can quite understand, from the terms of His Honor's opening address to the Council, that the inhabitants of Westport must not expect much, but there is such a thingas carrying a joke too far, and we must again protest against the miners at the Lyell and elsewhere up the River Buller being compelled to come down fifty or eighty miles to obtain a miner's right, a water-right, or other necessary grants from the Warden, when it is the bounden duty of the Government to have these things issued to them on the spot, or at least within a reasonable distance from the locality at which they may be at work.