THE WESTLAND COUNTY AND CHRISTCHURCH.

West Coast Times, Issue 676, 23 November 1867, Page 2

THE WESTLAND COUNTY AND CHRISTCHURCH.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE WEST COAST TIMES. Sie — Having carefully looked through the proceedings and the speeches made by the members of the Provincial Council for the city of Christchurch on the evening of November 13 last, in the Town Hall of that place, to explain their views upon three distinct subjects, as reported by the " Press," the first and second are immaterial to the people of Westland, but the third, in its latter part, as " to obtaining from the Superintendent and his Executive some publicity ac to their policy with regard to the debentures and their disposal," I think the people of Westland have also something to say about that. They are called upon to pay to the extent of two-thirds interest and sinking fund upon the Canterbury Provincial loans, from which not one penny, up to the present, has been spent iv Westland. One of the speakers, who is generally correctly informed, Mr W.Wilson, states that " he had heard it stated, and he understood that the debentures had been sold ; and he as well as the public would no doubt wish to know what had been done with the money." Now Sir, to that money, after the deduction of that portion allotted to Timaru and Gladstone, Westland is alone entitled to— even to the last shilling ; j-nd the purposes it is required for are pointed out by Mr Hawkes, which are applicable as well for West or Eastland." He says, "They were bound to develope the resources of the outlying districts, and he thought that if they at once commenced a system of tramways (roads) to those places where there was likely to be sufficient traffic to support them, they would be putting the debentures to good use ;" and further on he says — of which I still more approve — that " They should bridge all the large rivers as speedily as possible out of the proceeds ot the debentures." For this purpose I wish to call upon the Westland people, that they demand what is justly due to them. I am Sir, &c, Aome. Ross, November 21, 1867.