The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we Strive. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 922, 3 February 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we Strive. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1872.

It is singular to what length the pursuit of a favourite hobby will carry most people, and the bitterness of spirit a persons, generally well-meaning, will exhibit towards those who tender advice opposed to their favoured views, however wholesome it maybe. But, if friendly suggestions are thus treated, it is scarcely possible to describe the storm of wrathful indignation let loose upon these who ridicule or thwart the scheme that such persons have thought fit to patronise. A striking illustration of what we mean is presented by no small portion of the people of Nelson in connection with the Nelson and Foxhill Railway scheme, and the obloquy they have cast upon their member, a Mr Lightband, and more recently upon the editor of the " Independent," for no other reason than that both fail .11 to recognise in the project the intrinsic merit claimed by its advocates. Mr Lightband's position in the matter -,> is somewhat complicated, inasmuch as he happens to represent a y. Nelson constituency in the Assembly, and in that position was distinctly pledged to support a meai sure authorising the construction of a line of railway from Nelson to Foxhill. If we remember rightly ho lias fulfilled this pledge to his constituents, and now claims the right to express his candid disapproval of the enterprise. It is difficult to reconcile cou*or duct so contradictory, unless it were that an investigation of its merits had induced him to reverse his opinion in respect to the capabilities of the proposed railway. But, we believe, such E, is not the case, and that Mr Lightband is no more unfavourably impressed ice with the defects of the line than he was a few months back, when, in obedience to the views of his constiA tuents, ho recorded his consent to the undertaking. Wo believe that Mr Lischtband defends this recantation ou ves ° m* the plea that the question involved no md abstract principle; that unliko any i" great question of general policy such as educatiou, immigration, or the extension of a system of local self-go-lce •' , , ,i e vernment, the carrying out or abandonment of the Nelson and .Foxhill

ltailway was purely a matter of local interest, and that consequently there was nothing inconsistent in his formally advancing, on behalf of his constituents, what they conceived to bo a subject of culminating interest, ever strongly his own views might run counter to their opinion. To our thinking such a line of argument is altogether untenable, and the measure of Sir Lightband's political transgression is one of degree only. Other representatives havo doubtless supported the construction of public works within theic respective provinces, even while entertaining no higher opinion of their usefulness than in Mr Lightband's case, and in coinparision with these gentlemen he shows to advantage; but they at least have been sufficiently politic not to lay themselves open to the charge of tergiversation. If the Public Works Scheme is to advantage the colony, only such works must be undertaken as give promise of utility; and to dissipato the funds in barren schemes

ould be an inconceivable wrong to

the people of the colony. Yet, Mr Lightband, by his conduct, has assisted such misappropriation of the funds, owing to a misconception of his duties as a public man. Serious as Mr Lightband's error has been, it is one for which he is answerable to the people of the colony generally rather than to his own constituents. In his endeavours to serve them he stifled his own convictions, and for daring to give expression to the latter he is assailed in no measured terms by those who have

the least ground of complaint. The attack upon the present editor of the " Wellington Independent" is alike due to certain unfavorable criticisms upon the proposed line of railway to Foxhill. His vote also appeared among

the Ayes when the item " Nelson to Foxhill " was discussed. At the same

time, be qualified his concurrence in the scheme by the statement " that he did not think the line from Nelson to Eoxhill merely would be remunerative," evidently regarding it as a portion only of a greater scheme. We have no intention, however, to rush to the defence of the member for Grey Valley feeling assured that, should he deem it necessary, few are better able to silence the factious «ry of disappointed partizans.