The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 282, 26 June 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1868.

Not very long ago Dr Griles, who may certainly be taken as an unexceptionable authority iif the matter, at a pubiic meeting, plainly and clearly warned the public in reference to the sanitary condition of Westport, and gave as his professional opinion, that the comparative exemption from dangerous diseases during the past summer was entirely attributable to the wet and rainy season we have had. There can be no doubt that the doctor is perfectly right in his statement, and it is, as it were, a special providence that has thus interposed between the townspeople and dangerously fatal illness. It was said that had a warm summer been granted us, several parts that the rain has rendered comparatively innocuous, would have been stagnant hot beds of fever, and what nature lacked in this respect, art or rather filth, cast out by the residents themselves, would have abundantly supplied. Further, we were told that the authorities had no power to mitigate these evils, that if a warm season came on, the back slums must reek and carry their poisonous miasma round, without let or hindrance, because the police, excepting in very exceptional and glaring instances are powerless. This alone was a strong argument for the erection of a municipality, but as that hope for the present at least, is at an end the next question comes, how shall we protect ourselves and families in time to come? Only a Municipal Council could purge the Augean stable perfectly, but still the extension of the Town and Country Police Act to Westportwoulddo much. Thepolicewouldbe armed with far greater powers than they now possess, and certainly even a tyrannical exercise of it would be better thanpermitting fever to be sown broad cast in our midst At the same time there is no reason to believe that the police authorities would misuse the powers extended to them, and it desirable to runtherisk. All thatisnoeded is a proclamation in the Gazette, and this can be done without trouble or delay. Again, loose horses, driving wild cattle through through the streets at noonday, obstructions to the thoroughfare &e. might then be dealt with, and mamv dangers to which the public are at present liable might be put an end to. Dr G-iles has to proceed to Nelson, in order to give evidence in a perjury case, at the

ensuing sittings of the Supreme Court; and whilst on the spot we hope he will give effect to his own words, by applying for the extension alluded to. It could not como through a more reliable authority, and there is no reason whatever to doubt that on a hint from him the gazetting would follow at! a matter of course. On behalf of the inhabitants we trust he will sue to this, and let us thereby avoid the dangers he so lucidly pointed out.