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Inangahua Times, Volume II, 1 March 1880, Page 2

. The Government have found another ; way of testifying tbair friendliness to* I wards tbe West Coasi. Hitherto there has existed a fortnightly mail service between the West Coaafc and , Duaedia, by ships-bp^rd. Tbfß service ' has been performed by tbe Maori, the Nelson, calling in at Hokitika, Greymouth, and Wesfcporfe. By this means a considerable trade bas been de* j r veloped between the East and West I Coasts, and tbe service proved a vepy convenient one in many ways. The present Government, however, have come to the eonclanion that we can do very well without such a service, and have signified their intention to discontinue it in favor of a monthly one, the steamer to start from either Hokitika or Greymouth The alteration will materially affect shippers in Dunedin, as long standing trade nnd business associations with the Wesi^ , Coast wul have to be abandoned, an! we shall be thrown more than ever upon tfee Melbourne market for sup« plies. The inconvenience which such an alteration would inflict upon both Hokitika and Dunedin business men was recenMy pointed ou» to Mr Oliver, • by the Dunedin Chamber of Com merce, but to no purpose. The saving of a few pounds by such a reduction ) seems of far more importance to the Mm ster than the diversion of the trade of the Coast to Melbourne. Here is what the Dunerlin Herald, a neck - and * crop Ministerial journrl, thinks of Use action of the GovernBlent : — ! '~\Ye regret that Govern* ment should he so uafor!u"ate as to irritate peop'e all round in carrying ou 4 its mission of retrenchment. We may say at once that we believe it is ' quite sincere in its endeavors : kuj^ it is possible to effect alterations which ■are perhaps legitimate and necessary in a narcUand-fagt manner that will in« t evitably make the Administration more i, unpopular than wuuld even corrupt r conduct on tlieir part. Several alterae tions have of late been m^de, which though right enough in themselves, - have caused considerable inconvens i ience to the pnblic; but al! request ' for slight concessions wh ; eh would tend to minimise the inconvenience haye been met ?--ith blank refusals. On Saturday last the deputation from the Chambpr of Commerce brought under Mv Oliver^ notice the proposed severauce of Dunedin from the West Coast service. As the matter apperMined to the Postmaster-General's g aepartment, Mr Oliver promised to I make inquiries, and report to the Chamber.' Hie reply will be found in a£otb,er column, tfce ej^ct of wb,ic,h is

thut the worst fears of the 'deputation have been confirmed. Mr Oliver is good enough to say that Dunedin ship-owners can tender for the service,' but, as awarding to the advertisement 'die serree must fee from either Greymouth or Hokitika, we imagine they tnajf|spar^fchem»iltfe*,the trouble/