The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 382, 21 October 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1868.

Without doubt the action taken by the Progress Committee, in despatching a delegate to Nelson to personally present the petition in reference to river-bank protection, will meet with the approval of all who are interested ; a*, not only .will the prayer contained bj orally supported, and explanations offered, but the public will know what to expect, aud, instead of having to endure a tedious waste if time while official correspondence on the subject proceeded, and the river bank was more and more being eaten away, a clear and categorical reply, yea or nay, will be returned in a week. The Progress Committee request definite information as to whether the Government will afford the necessary assistance ; and, if not, why not. These points arrived at, the people of "Westport can take sue'i action as the crisis may demaid. We have little doubt that the reply will be, that the Provincial Executive regrets the disaster, but has no means at command to repair it at preseut; that the District Engineer has been instructed to report on it, and that all that is possible shall be done. This, in fact, should we be correct in onr surmise, will mean exactly nothing, and it is well to be prepared with at least some proposition on its receipt. In the first place the best means of protection are not ascertained, though the suggestions offered are legion. If it is true, that in a multituda of counsellors there is wisdom, we ought to arrive at a highly sagacious solution of the problem, for nearly every one is ready with some panacea for past a id future river evds. Mr Lowe's iJea is, we believe, the erection of a groin or breakwater, about half-a-mile up the river, which he thinks would have the effect of diverting the current into the middle of the river bed, and thereby protect the bank on the northern side. This appears feasible enough, but the estimated cost £4OOO or £SOOO, will be, we fear, a sad stumbling block to the scheme being carric d out. On the same principle, a nonprofessional authority suggests that an old hulk of some kind, that could be purchased for a few hundred pounds should be towed up to the most suitable point, filled with sand or shingle, and scuttled, and in order still further to secure it, shingle sho jld be shot down on either side of the hulk, and so prevent the possibility of its being washed away. What is the best plan to adopt, is beyond our skill to determine, but one thing is very certain, either that prompt steps lo secure the bank must

be taken, or a large slice of the town must inevitably be swept away. Under these circumstances then,it is absolutely and imperatively incumbent on the G-overnment, to strain every point to avert further calamity from this source, The fact of all public works being, from some cause or other, aeces arlly stopped on the Coast, is quite grave enough occasion to justify the Council being summoned, and with other matters this question can then be dealt with. Whether funds are in hand or not, funds must be obtained from somewhere, when a large part of the town is threateued with destruction, and the means of doing so could be debated in the Council meeting. In connection with this all important part of the difficulty, it has beeu suggested and we think wisely, that the Coal reserve should be sold at once, and that the money so realised, would at least go a long way towards the necessary expenses. It is true that it may be a bad just now, and that the sale would not produce what might be considered fair value, but when a man is in desperate straits, he must be prepared to submit to serious sacrifices, in order to raise money that is possibly essential to his very existence. By this means a large quantity of valuable building land would be brought into the market, and the section holders as a rule, would be well pleased to become freeholders, with secure tenure, to being what they now are, literally, squatters liable to removal at any time, after a short notice. Such valuations for improvements, could be put onastorenderinjustice to the holders impossible, and the upset prices might also be fixed at a moderate rate, so as to give all an opportunity of purchasing. The amount that might be thus realised, would we think be from £ISOO to £2OOO, which, eyen if not sufficient, would at least be a handsome proportion of what is required. The justice of this appropriation, would be so much the greater, as a portion of the very reserve is now mainly threatened. There can be no excuse for declining to turn this land to account, and, no doubt, if the Superintendent and his Executive, will only ransack their brains, other means of raising the needed sum will also offer themselves. Before however, any other than merely temporary works are undertaken, it is to be hoped that competent engineering talent will be engaged, and that a repetition of the late disastrous blundering will never again be rendered possible. The subject is a critical one, the most critical that has ever arisen in the town, and the manner in which it will be dealt with, is anxiously awaited.