A PROBABLE REASON.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 951, 23 March 1872, Page 2

A PROBABLE REASON.

(To the JEdilor of the Wcstport Times and Charleston Argus.) Sib, —There is a statement in the " Grey River Argus " of the 12th inst. that ought not to go forth unchallenged. It is as follows :—" It is the fact, and for Nelson a lamentable fact, that, while every city in the colony sympathised with Greymouth readily, heartily, and practically, on the occasion of the recent and greatest occasion of disaster, Nelson said and did nothing." The quotation, like a good deal o'f the " article " from which it is taken, is rather foggy, but I think I can divine the editor's meaning. The denizens of "Sleepy Hollow." do not possess the reputation of being close*

jsted ; and if 011 this occasion they live not responded to the appeal for usisfaiice " practically," there must be 5 reason for their inaction.

Perhaps the circumstance that an ippeal to the people of G-reymouth for contributions to form the nucleus of j fund for the relief of widow* and orphans, .and which was liberally responded to, about £4OO being the receipts ; but the deductions were so enormous that less than £9O was available for the purpose for which the funds were contributed, is not obliterated from the minds of the Nelsonians. Or it may be that their rural population, who are really in greater distress than the sufferers, by the late flood, through low prices of produce and the dry summer, claim their attention and generosity. I have more than once experienced the hospitality of the people of Nelson, svhicli you must accept as my apology for troubling you with this epistle. " I am, yours, &c., , Fairplay.