WESTPORT PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 540, 10 August 1869, Page 2

WESTPORT PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

Tbis Committee met in the Courthouse ou Saturday. All the members wore present except the Chairman (Mr Tyler.) In his absence Mr O'Conor was called to the chair. Tho Hon. Secretary read the minutes of the last meeting, which bad been held on the 10th of June. The Chairman, as member of a sub-committee appointed to cousicl er a letter addressed to the Committee by Dr Giles, on the subject of the sanitary condition of tbo' town, reported that, in the opinion of the subcommittee, the object of Dr Giles's suggestions could bo'only or best acheived by the formation of aMunicipal C oimcil. And he thought it would-be well for the interests of all if the public were to be generally of tho same opinion. With reference to a notice- of motion which stood in the minutes in his name, on the subject of improving the road between Westport and the Orawaiti, he was glad to observe that considerable improvement in the state of the road had been effected by the Government. RIVER BANK PROTECTION.

The Chairman said the subject with regard to which the meeting had been specially called was the protection of the Buller banks. It had been generally represented in town that the Progress Committee should urge the Government to take immediate steps in that matter. They were now again on the eve of the season of floods, and, if nothing were done before then, very serious injury would be done to property-holders and residents of the place. He would be glad to receive any notice on the subject. Mr Hughes said that it had been at his instigation that the meeting had been called, although everyone must appreciate its importance." It was well-known that £3OOO had been voted for the purpose during the last session of the Provincial Council, and not a shilling of that vote had yet been expended. Under the circumstances, he thought it would be well if the Committee were to adopt some course to bring the matter under notice—either to wait upon the Disrtict Engineer, or to make application to the Government direct. It had been currently reported that the Government had not the slightest intention of expending the vote; but, whatever might be the intention, he thought that, at least, some representation on the subject should emanate from the Committee. It might be that several of the streets would soon be without an outlet, if the present state of matters were allowed to continue. He moved:—" That a Committee consisting of Messrs Powell,

O'Conor, Alcorn, Humphrey, and the mover, he appointed to confer with Mr Dobson, with the view of ascertaining whether the river protection worka are to be commenced, and to take such other steps as may be advisable, to accelerate the action of the Government in the matter." Mr Powell seconded the motion.

Mr Alcorn mentioned that a deputation had lately waited upon Mr Dobson, with regard to the extension of wharf accommodation, and Mr Dobson then stated that he would telegraph or write on the subject. It might be that, when waited upon now, he would refer to the £6O or £7O to be expended on the upper Wharf as one piece of the work which was to be undertaken immediately. The sub-committee should wait upon Mr Dobson prepared for this answer, aud with the knowledge that it formed no part of the protective works. Mr Hughes said they all knew that the mouey had been voted, but they were quite in the dark as to its being expended. Mr Field thought it probable that they might require to take other steps besides waiting upon Mr Dobson, for there was too good reason to believe that, where money was to be expended, the most prompt attention would not be given to the Engineer's letters. The motion was unanimously agreed to ; and on the motion of Mr Powell, seconded by Mr Leslie, it was further agreed that Mr Reid should be requested to co-operate with the Committee. PRISON LABOR. Mr Milne moved :—" That a deputation of the Committee, consisting of Mr Field, Mr Leslie, and the mover, wait upon Dr Giles to request that he cause prison labor to be employed in keeping clear the principal streets of Westport." Mr HuAiriißEY seconded the motion. Mr Alcorn was inclined to move' as an ameudment, that it be requested that the prisoners be employed in cutting drains and removing; stumps in the back streets. He would not have the " name " of asking them to undertake such a paltry work as that proposed. The Chatrmak had never seen any filth or rubbish to be removed. Mr Milne could readily find the prisoners a week's work at once. It was much better for them to be thus em. ployed than cutting firewood. Mr .Alcorn would not press his motion. He believed it would be valueless, for it evidently took all the time of the prisoners to do that one work —to cut firewood ! TE LEGRAPH IRREG DLARITCES. Mr Hughes drew attention to the irregular and imperfect manner in which the Government shipping telegrams were forwarded from Nelson. Attention had been called to the subject several times by the Press, but he thought that a communication from the Committee to head-quarters might have some effect in bringing the Nelson telegraph officers "to their bearings." He proposed that the Hon. Secretary be requested to communicate with the Postmaster-General on the subject. The motion was seconded by Mr Powell, and agreed to.

MR. LECTURE.

The Chairman thought it proper that he should read the Committee a lecture. He had on several occasions endeavored to get a meeting convened, and had not succeeded.

Mr Powell : By next meeting, we shall mend our ways. The CftAißMAir said he was entirely dissatisfied with the Committee, and especially with its powerlessness. In fact he was very anxious to withdraw altogether from it ; not because he was not desirous of uniting to effect some public good, but he felt that they really could effect very little. He thought that it would be much better if they could succeed in forming a Municipality. If the inhabitants did not do so, the Committee should, at least, not be made a scapegoat. They were expected to do a great deal, but really could do nothing. For his part he must tell them that the next meeting would be the last which he for one would attend, unless there were some steps taken to have either a Municipality or some body svhich would be constituted with some authority in the place. If they could have a Municipality, let them have it. The last two or three meetings he had called had been for the purpose of ventilating that idea, and of withdrawing from the field gracefully. They owed a duty to the public, and, if they failed in discharging it, they should let the public know :t, and request them to take some other steps for the representation of local necessities. At present they had no authority or locus standi whatever, and might as well confer in the streets.

Mr Alcorn gave notice of motion for the discussion of the subject at next meeting. The Chairman- referred also to the danger to property from the number of antiquated iron chimneys in the town, and to the necessity for some regulation by which the danger might be diminished.

Mr Alcorn thought that that matter would also naturally be referred to in the discussion on a Municipality. The Committee was then adjourned until half-past seven on the evening of Thursday next.