Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/149

140 from the general revenue was also promised by Mr. Sale to assist in carrying out this necessary work; but he was informed by Mr. Red Tape of Christchurch that if he expended any money on that work he would be held accountable for the same—or, in other words, it would be deducted from his salary.

“What was the result? Nearly a thousand pounds’ worth of this partly-finished protective work was swept away by the floods, and properties of some of our wealthiest merchants (to the extent of many thousands) were washed into the surf; and the river now runs triumphantly over the place where not only costly buildings once stood, but the happy homes of many industrious families.

“Now, although the suspension of this work had caused such irreparable damage, and the blame was attributed to him alone, he shrunk not from the censure, but endured all the sarcasm and contumely then unjustly showered upon him; nor was it till long after that the whole truth was told; that he had been the constant (though often unavailing) advocate of Westland’s rights, whilst we were under the domination of Christchurch.

“After much agitation, a change was wrought in Westland’s favour. Two gentlemen were permitted to represent her wants and wishes in the Provincial Council, and afterwards three more were added to the number; but these were often powerless for good, being out-voted by superior numbers—but, after a gallant struggle, they retired from the unequal contest.

“The continual sense of wrong under which Westland had so long laboured found a vent in an attempt to gain separation from Canterbury. Several fruitless meetings were held, until at last about a dozen patriotic men were elected, and went to work in right earnest, and got up such a bill of indictment—or, rather, a full statement of Westland’s grievances—as was never before witnessed in the southern hemisphere.

“Its effects were electrical. Thousands of names were attached to the monster petition, and despatched to Mr. Stafford, then Chief Secretary at Wellington, and to the Hon. John Hall, his colleague, and to the energy of these two, Westland is indebted for her severance from a cruel stepmother, and for giving her a simple form of local government. During all this time Mr. Sale administered the affairs of the district unswervingly, and although during the latter portion of this time Mr. Bonar was nominally the head as Goldfields’ Secretary, and during his year of office as County Chairman, Mr. Sale as County Secretary was the mainspring of the Government machinery, for all business of importance was referred to him, and without his advice nothing was done.

“He continued to hold office until the Amended Act came into operation; when, by some oversight of the authors of the bill, the post of County Secretary was omitted. He was by this time