The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice We strive. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 939, 8 March 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice We strive. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1872.

Axd so the idea of holding the next session ol* the Geueral Assembly in Dunedin has been abandoned; we much doubt whether the Goyernment ever seriously contemplated such an absurdity as to make the General Legislative and Executive bodies a kind of travelling Punch-and-Judy exhibition. With all our appliances of local self-government Provincial Executives Provincial Councils ltoad Boards—Boards of Works—Educational Boards, besides innumerable societies of a more private nature, surely a resting place may be granted for the more important deliberation and administration of colonial affairs, and for the convenience of reference to what may bo termed the national records. We cannot imagine that any Government could hesitate or debate on such a plain matter; nor does the " question," as it is require any serious consideration. Such a subject as a Parliament travelling on circuit one would think should be decided only by the unanimous consent of both Legislative as well as the Executive bodies, not by a majority of the House of Kepresentatives. If Wellington be considered unfit for our fifty or sixty legislators for a few months in the year, it surely must be inhuman to subject the Executive, with its legion of officials, to a forced existence in such o, place all the year round. If Wellington be unfit for the Assembly to meet at arid discuss the weighty affairs of the colony, then change the capital, but let the Executive Government have a local habitation as well as a name. A deputation waited upon tho Hon Mr Reeves this afternoon, at Gilmer's Post Office Hotel. The object of the deputation was to urge on the roa4 works in the Inangahua Valley, and to represent the necessity for more frequent mail communication between Wcstport and the various centres of up-river population. The reply of Mr j Reeves was satisfactory. A fuller report wiU appear in to-morrow's issue. It will be seen by our advertising columns that tenders are invited for the formation of a dray road from Christy's to the Gorge, and from Laj-ry's Creek to Fern Flat.

A quantity of goods are to hand from Greymouth, Hokitika and Brighton, by Kennedy, Murray, and Three Friends, which are to be forwarded to the reefs. It appears that, notwithstanding what has been said elsewhere to the contrary, the route by the Buller'.river is generally accepted as the only practical one, not only for machinery, but also for general merchandise.

The " Colonist," in commenting on the late news from home, amidst some judicious remarks deprecatory of the present demands of the States, not for the direct damages caused by the Alabama (which the English Government has conceded), says that "it has not been proved that there was a failure of due diligence in preventing the departure of Southern vessels from British ports." A reference to the article which appeared in a late issue of the " Westport Times," will show that the " Colonist " is mistaken in that respect. The steamer Eangitoto had the quickest passage ever accomplished on ber last trip from Nelson to Wellington. She left Nelson, March 1, at half-past eleven o'clock, and arrived in Wellington at a quarterpast eight, thus accomplishing the run in 8 hours 45 minutes.

Mr A. S. Collins, M.IT.K,, for the Collingivood district, lias been addressing his constituents lately, and during his speech said, "the 'Wellington Independent' and 'Colonist' papers subsidised to abuse their opponents." Upon this the " Colonist " thus remarks.—"These words are from the speech of Mr Arthur Collins to his constituents, at Oollingwood. As regards the 'Colonist' (the ' Independent' is able to take care of itself), it is totally untrue. It is one of those rare instances of pure fiction which indicate an enormous inventive faculty. Whether the exciting force in the orator's mind was malignity or fatuity, wo leave him to settle with his awe-stricken hearers."