The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 232, 29 April 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1868.

Without doubt the building ground in the town of Westport is rather curiously apportioned. In the first place, nearly all the clear and most valuable ground was set apart for a Maori reserve, and to add to that piece of wise legislation, the next best block, containing several acres, is proclaimed a coal reserve. As to the Maori ground we can conceive the equity of allotting the original possessors the pick of the township, though at the same time it would possibly have been just as right if the fair-skinned pakehas had had some chance to get hold of a slice, at least, of the most available ground nearest to the river and the least swampy. It is all very well arguing that the Maori was the first possessor. That is undeniable, but what value would his possessions have been without the advent of the white man. Be this as it may, however, the Executive that approved of such an extent of ground being appropriated to a coal reserve, must have been extremely sanguine as to the magnitude of the coal resources of this port. What the motive could have been is a perfect mystery. It is highly improbable, let us utilise our coal seams as we may, that we shall require acres to provide the necessary space for carrying on a colliery depot. It really seems though as if the original surveyors thought that one-half of the town would be needed for the Maori and the other for the coal, and this unhappy conception having been, in point of fact, carried into practical effect, has had anything but a beneficial influence on the progress of Westport. As far as the Maori reserve goes, the representatives of the native race have managed to let off the ground on very good terms for themselves but exceedingly bad terms for the rash lessees, some of whom, at the present time, find to their intense disgust, that they might rent houses and ground complete, at a less annual charge than they are now paying for the privilege of occupying Maori ground, after having laid out money in building their own houses. If people will give fancy prices for stands however, they must take the consequences when reaction sets in. The coal reserve, though, assumes a totally different aspect, and the Government having apparently recovered their senses, permit its occupation on business license, and thereby derive a very handsome income. This occupatien is now likely to be disturbed if the views of some of the members of the Council can be carried out, and, as stated in our yesterday's issue, the holders of sections on it have taken the alarm at the probability of it being proposed to lease the reserve and fix a certain rental at per foot per annum, as the condition of tenure. The reserve includes one side of Gladstone-street as far as the Post Office Hotel from the river, runs back some distance, including portions of Kennedy, Molesworth, and other streets, and on it are placed some of the largest and finest houses, as well as the smallest cabins inhabited in Westport. One portion contains the most valuable business sites, the other is swamp, in which people have persisted in living, in the hope that it would be of some value. As the memorial states, it would be impossible to adjust any rental so as to do justice in levying rent from sections so dissimilar in value, and it is simply absurd to make the attempt ; if the reserve is leased at all, it must be leased at an uniform rate. Eor example, what might be a fair tax on the Post Office Hotel, |would be ridiculously preposterous on a section in a back street, and what would be an equitable rental for a mercantile establishment in Kennedy-street, would be actually outrageous on a section a hundred yards further back. Such being the case, the idea of leasing cannot for a moment be entertained, and the question comes as to what is the best course to pursue under the circumstances, to ensure permanent tenure to present occupiers. Either the land must be sold, or the present system continued, and to both these alternatives there are objections. Though the occupiers may have full reliance on the .good faith of the Government, they are entirely at I

their mercy, and when people spend money in erecting houses, at greater or less expense, they naturally enough look for some more substantial security for their outlay than the whim of the existing authorities. On this ground then, the holding under business license would be unsatisfactory. On the other hand, if we consider leasing as being out of the question, the next consideration is how far will sale advantage those interested. It has its drawbacks in this manner. If the sections at present occupied were put up for sale, it is very certaiu that many who now have houses over their heads would not be able to purchase the ground on which they are located; more than this, it is doubtful whether even many of the business mea would care to buy at anything more than the upset price, and this fact might, very probably, open the door to speculators, who would purchase with the view of extorting profit either from the present or future occupiers. This would be the disadvantage of sale at the present time, and the Government too, if they put land in the market now, would equally have to suffer through the lower prices it would fetch. If sale is determined on, we fully coincide with the prayer of the ir.emorial that valuations—full, and even high valuations—be put upon improvements, in order to prevent, as far as possible, people from being turned out of their holdings, or if turned out, to secure them something like compensation. It seems then, that in any case, the Government are somewhat in the horns of a dilemma, and of two evils they have to choose the least. Now we know that on this point opinion varies, and we cannot pretend to speak with authority, but it appears to us that the best course to pursue at present is just to let matters alone. On either side there are stumbling-blocks, but this appears to be the most free from them, and on that account we hope that the leasing proposition may fall through. At the same time, in preference to that, we should be glad to find the sections put up for sale.