The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 839, 20 July 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1871.

In our last issue we published corres. pondence from residents at Addison's censuring the authorities for the disgraceful state into which the "YVestport and -Addison's road has been permitted to lapse. The complaints are not without reason. The Addison's community very naturally feel aggrieved that a district furnishing so considerable a revenue, and receiving absolutely nothing in return, should at least be deserving of a passable means of communication between the workings and the base of supply. Beyond some trifling subsidy to the local school, which is not worth taking into account, the district of Addison's receives no share of the Provincial expenditure. For years past there has not'even been any officer of police stationed there, and all business in connection with the Warden's Court has been disposed of at Westport. The inconvenience to the mining community of that locality in, having „to visit Westport is in itself very great, and when added to the miserable means of communication, we need not feel surprised that the apathy on the part of the Government should awaken a loud and general feeling of discontent. A similar listlessness is being exhibited in connection with highly necessary works throughout the entire Buller district. We had hoped that ere this tenders would have been called for the construction of the necessary road between the Inangahua Junction and Eeefton. The communication from Westport to Christy's promises very shortly to be perfected by means of the towing track, and from that point merchandise and machinery by means of a good dray road could be transported to the quartz workings at a moderate figure. This latter work should be undertaken without delay. A Hokitika firm already request tenders for the conveyance of a large quantity of machinery to Eeefton, and this is but the first instalment of what will be required, as the mines already found payable are developed. In Westport itself the streets are being neglected, and the formation of necessary streets is delayed. The encroachments made by the sea during the past month have destroyed a portion of the available sites for business purposes, and outside Gladstone, Kennedy, and Wallabi streets there is no road upon which it would be possible to drive a loaded dray. Upwards of twelve months ago, when portions of the town were similarly threatened as now by the sea, we urged the necessity of at once forming and metalling Palmerston-street. The work has now become one of obvious importance, but we fear that nothing will be done in this direction until the removal of the Government buildings becomes compulsory, when the authorities may admit the urgency of the work. The loss to business people, who are already suffering so severely from the calamitous course of recent events, is greatly increased by the reprehensible inaction of the Provincial Government.