The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 898, 9 December 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1871.

We learn from an article which appears in the "Grey River Argus," of Wednesday last, that Mr O'Cunor, M.H.R., has incurred the wrathful displeasure of that journal. A casua i glance at the writing referred to iright engender the belief that the honorarium question, as contained in a letter published in the " Jfelson Colonist," was the sole cause of the virtuous indignation exhibited by our contemporary. A closer perusal will, however, satisfactorily demonstrate that it is the old grievance of the relative merits of the Inangahua and Grey Valley routes for a line of road which has elicited such a burst of anger from the Greymouth organ. The writer of a trip overlaud ; from Hokitika to Westport, by Reefton, whom the "Argus" rightly or wrongly assumes to be Mr O'Conor, after discussing the merits of the two routes in a thoroughly impartial spirit, arrives at the conclusion that the Buller route is immeasurably superior to that by the Grey Valley. The expression of such ar» opinion, as we have before stated is all sufficient ground for the plentiful abuse launched at Mr O'Conor. The opinion expressed by the writer in our columns as to the poverty of the land in the Grey Valley is a correct one, and is endorsed by their own correspondent in the " Grey Argus," of the Ist inst, wherein he speaks of " the beautiful valley of the Grey, with its arable laud, chock full of stones." That is in reality the fact. The capabilities of the soil in the Grey Valley have been greatly over-rated, and in place of its possessing the extraordinary fertility claimed, it is poor and stony. The farmers themselves say that it is unsuitable for agriculture; as they express it, "you may sow any quantity of clover seed in the soil, and your crop will be chiefly Borrel." If the " Argus" choose to consult the farmers on the Totara Flat, they will find that, notwithstanding the very high prices obtained

for produce, farming there ia not profitable; and but for the stock reared by the farmers on the adjacent bush they would be unable to make ends meet.

Wc vow come to the unfounded statements coucerning Mr O'Conor contained in the " Argus" of* the Gth instant. Firstly, that at the close of the session he claimed the full amount of the honorarium £lO5, on the ground that ho had been delayed by illness. The reply to that is, that no such claim was ever made by Mr O'Conor. Secondly, that his travelling expenses from Hokitika via Greymouth and laangahua were paid by Government. Such was not the case, and, consequently, even assuming that the x-esults of his observations had beer; published in his own paper, they could not have been at the cost of the country, as suggested, by the " Argus." As to Mr O'Conor giving the Government the benefit of what the writer styles his " foregone conclusions," no uneasiness need be entertained on that score, as we have authority for stating that he has done nothing of the kind, nor does he wish to do so, as he is quite satisfied that the Government should and will exercise their their own judgment. The statement is also entirely wrong regarding the honorarium paid to Sir David Monro and to Mr Parker. The former received his qaota, and Mr Parker received his from the time of his being sworn in. The "Argus" is also in error when stating that Sir David Monro has been called to the Upper House, for suck is not the case. Taking the article in its entirety, it may he regarded as a " perfect comedy of errors," We regret that our Greymouth contemporary should have laid itself open to the charge of allowing its leading columns to be the vehicle of circulating vulgar mis-statements. Such a course has been hitherto unusual wich that journal. Had it been otherwise we should have been at no pains to contradict thess ortions.