The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 151, 24 January 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1868.

There are but few persons who will read the address of Mr Smith in this morning's paper but will agree with us that it is the most plain and sensible thai has been delivered. Without any attempt at clap-trap or affectation, it is a simple common-sense statement of facts, and in only one thing do we differ from him, and that is, in the establishment of municipalities. He tells us that he is in favor of tracks and roads, and not tramwaye, except when constructed by private enterprise, and also in favour of mining boards, which are certainly the two great wants of the district just now, for it is impossible to open np the country without tracks or roads, and it is almost an impossibility to give satisfaction under the Gold Fields Regulations as they at present exist.

Nobody will quarrel with him for his views respecting the wharfage question, while his ideas on the local reserve are worthy of consideration. As we have said before, we do not require an eloquent man, but one with a fair allowance of common-sense, who will know when to speak, and what to speak in a concise business way. No great questions are brought before or decided by the Provincial Council, and, therefore, eloquence is not needed. Such being the case, we must give Mr Smith credit as being the best who has appeared, and who is fully conversant with the wants of the district, and we are quite certain that if elected he will not cause the member for the Westport district to become the butt and laughing-stock of the Council, as one of the present members for the South-west Q-oldfields has made himself.

We have so often urged the necessity of cutting tracks and making roads, that we are afraid that in again bringing this subject under the notice of our readers, we shall be accounted a bore. The use of tracks is so obvious in a country like this, that we wonder they are not immediately made to any new diggings, but to a tried diggings—one capable of supporting a large population —it seems almost an absurdity to talk about making a track. What is required is a good dray road. We are led into making these remarks by a rumor that the Government is about to make a track to the Caledonian diggings. If such it to be the case, we hope the Government will reconsider the subject, and while they are about it, form a road. The additional expense will be but trifling, in comparison with the convenience it will afford and the saving effected to the mining. As an illustration of the advantage of a road over a track, we will point to the Caledonian track and the Charleston road—one situated 20 miles from Westport, and the other about six miles. Goods can be carted from Westport to Charleston at a cost not exceeding 6s per cwt, while the same description of goods cannot be conveyed to the Caledonian under a charge of 15s, thereby enormously increasing the cost to the purchaser. As another illustration of the disadvantage which a town labor,* under through' not having n roadway, we need only point to Addison's Flat, which, even to the present day, can only supply its large population by means of packhorses, and is always in a bard state. The trouble in conveying ordinary merchandise is great enough, but when heavy machinery has to be conveyed in tbe same manner, the difficulty is increased tenfold We are in favor of tracks when a difficult and distant country has to be reached, but where the diggings happen to be situated near a permanent centre of population, and give every promise of supporting a numerous population, tracks are not to be thought of. What is wanted are good substantial dray roads. A road to the Caledonian would not only benefit the digger but the townspeople of Westport, as it would enable the miners to visit the town more frequently, and be the means of putting money into circulation.