The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 170, 15 February 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1868.

Vox et prceterea nihil —3o might say the Committee oppointed at the late moeting at Trimbell's Hotel, having for its object the protection of the river hank. The question of the river bank and its protection seems to be exciting some little attention in the minds of scientific men on the Buller, even if the committee ushered into being with sermonical orations, have not thought it worth its while to take any steps in the matter because the introduction of Mr Crate into its composition had spoiled the little game. The committee without Mr Crate would have been, if we can give an credence to the speakers, one of the most active and energetic ever yet formed in Westport. It was composed of a new element in Buller history—the gentlemen were to show the remaining portion of the community how they would carry anything out they undertook —and they have carried the work out in a manner which we expected from its component parts, by simply doing notbiug. We were accused of throwing cold w .iter on the object of the meeting, bocause we en

doraed the opinion of Mr Tyler, as to the apathy that seemed to prevail respecting it, but if the inhabitants were apathetic, how much more so lias been this committee which promised so much, but as yet have done not even little, but simply nothing at all. AV r o certainly did expect something would have arisen out of the extremely energetic action our newly-fledged Crown Prosecutor had taken in the matter; for we are certain that if any member of the Nelson Executive had happened to have been present on the occasion of that memorable meeting, he would certainly have trembled for the safety of the Nelson Grovernment—as it was almost Feenian in its tendency as to what it would do if the wishes of the committee were not carried out, but the Nelson Government can now go to sleep in comfort, for the committee has not yet even made a sign though they were to have the assistance of the Crown Prosecutor in Westport in fulminating a thunderbolt, but perhaps that functionary has thought better of it since then, and has decided in letting the matter in nubibus, for was it not after all only vox et prceterea nihil. How. ever let the cause be what it may the matter seems to have dropped, and our friend Crate will not have an opportunity of displaying his eloquence, or our new member in showing off his legislative capabilities. If the committee therefore have abandoned their bantling, it seems as if the practical men —men of science, are not inclined to let tiie matter drop, and out of the discussion now taking place it is possible that some good may arise. It seems that Mr Sloane, under the direction of the Nelson Government, has been busily engaged in erecting a kind of breastwork, with the view of prptecting the river bank in the neighborhood of Morey's Hotel, near the site of the old Custom-house. Having had practical experience of the force of the floods freshets in the Buller river, the work now in course of erection seems to be totally inadequate for the object sought to be proposed, and Mr Somner, Mr Turner, and other gentlemen of wellknown abality, have expressed themselves on the matter, and Mr Somner in our issue of yesterday warmly inveighs against cutting away the gravelly cement composing the river bank, in order to place the framework at present in course of construction. No doubt the works at present going on has one merit, viz., that of cheapness, and a show of doing something, but beyond this it is the opinion of the gentlemen alluded to above, that it is not only useless but worse than useless, as the only bona fide protection is being destroyed. A suggestion has been thrown out by Mr Turner, with which we heartily concur, and that is to call for plans and award a premium to that which may be considered the best. By this means a variety of ideas may be obtained, and some relief procured that will not be swept away by any fresh or flood. As it is, our commerce is being destroyed, and the port earning an unenviable reputation, in consequence of the stupid blundering system that is now being carried on. The community owe a debt of gratitude to Mr Somner, for the manner in which he has spoken out. In conclusion, let us thank the committee for what they intended to do but forgot to carry out, as no doubt good intentions are something but good actions are a great deal better, but at present all that we can say of this riverbank protection committee is that, ' their labors might be summed up in the phrase as being vox et praeterea nihil.