The Westport Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 596, 21 December 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1869.

The last of the four fires which have happened in "Westport within the past fortnight, though least destructive, is most suggestive of all the four. It suggests several things, according to the fancy or discrimination of each one acquainted with the circumstances, or interested in the property at stake, but it suggests chiefly and generally these propositions—that it would be expedient for the {3-overnment and property-holders in the block endangered to announce at once a reward for the discovery of the incendiary by whom the fire was evidently eaused—that it is most necessary that Westport should have a greater amount of police protection than it has at present —that the presence of a Detective Officer on this part of the Coast is especially necessary—and that, if there is any possibility of doing it under any existing Act or Ordinance, it should be rigidly enforced that owners of such empty houses as that in which the fire occurred should afford some protection to themselves and others by leaving their premises in a more secure condition than is usually done. Upon each of these suggestions much might be written, as much has been said ; but, at the present stage of inquiry, it may be enough simply to direct attention to the matter. Rewards in such cases are not unusual, and, under such circumstances as the present, when a large amount of property, and probably life, were threatened, a reward would be most advisable; and a reward, to be of any service, would require to be a large one. As to police protection, there is no doubt an excellent substitute for the usual night-watch in the provision already made —at the expense of the inhabitants ; but with police on patrol the chances of any offender perpetrating a crime or escaping from the scene of it would certainly be greatly diminished ; and as to the presence of Detectives it is only necessary to refer to the service which that Department of the Police effected in the) past to know of how much service they might be now or in the future. The unprotected state of the large amount of unoccupied property which is the prevailing feature of some parts of the town is really of as serious consideration as anything else, and how the nuisance which it causes, in a sanitary point of view or in point of safety, is to be diminished it is somewhat difficult to say. Domiciliary visits by the police are certainly necessary, if only to evict occasional vagrants " illegally on premises," but there must be several buildings in town which deserve to be inspected in the interests of the inhabitants generally, as well as in the interests of vagrants who might find more comfortable quarters in Her Majesty's gaol, and productive employment in work on Westport streets. With a Municipal Ordinance, or others similar, these things might be easily managed; in our present chaotic state of municipal organisation it may not be so easy. And even if no other good be effected than the calling of attention once more to this want of corporate institutions, the paper and kerosene which were burnt in the attempt of Saturday to set the town on fire will not have been burnt in vain.