BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 978, 11 June 1872, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(pee gSeville's telegram company, beuteb's agents.) WELLINGTON. June 7. Mr Harrison has boon requested to furnish tho Government; with a memorandum upon the lieefton petition, and recommends that the only remedy for the chronic discontent prevailing on tho South-west Goldfiolds is to detach them from tho Nelson Goverment. He proposes the unification of the electoral districts of Buller, G-rey Valley, Hokitilia, and Tolara as Province of Westland, with following provisions for local administration : Three counties Hokitika, G-rev, and Bailer—each with a Council consisting of seven members, viz., the Chairmen ot' lload Boards, and Mayors of Boroughs, and three others elected by ratepayers, to meet once a quarter. The revenue of County Councils to consist of all local taxation, publicans' licenses, dog tax, &c , and such a proportion of the Goldfiolds and land revenue, not being less than 25 per cent, as the Provincial Council may award to each county respectively. Provincial Council to consist of 15 elected members. One member for each road district and two members for each county town. Superintendent and Governor's delegate to bo nominated during pleasure. Counties to consist of the following road districts : COUNTY OF HOKITIKA. Totara, Ilokitika Town, Kanieri, and Arahura. COUNTY OF GKEY. Paroa, Ahaura, Greymouth, and other road district to be determined on. COUNTY OF BULLER. Inangahua, Westport, Charleston, and Brighton. Tho Provincial Council to have the power to legislate in form of by-laws for certain prescribed subjects. All Goldfield offices and courts to be under the General Government. The Provincial Council at first sitting to decide the capital of the province. Mr Harrison points out the favorable opportunity for making a change, as the present Westland County Council expires in December next, and sug gest-s that Okarito, on account of the smallness of population, be united to Totara district. (from our oavn cobrespondent.) NELSON. June 8. The Select Committee appointed to enquire as to Mr O'Couor's action in the purchase of sections at Westport, reported last night to the effect that prior to June 4th Mr O'Conor contemplated purchasing land in the upper part of Westport. That on tkat day fi Select Committee recommended the withdrawal of land, pending a decision is to its distribution among sufferers by sea encroachments. That this was igreed to in presence and hearing of Mr O'Conor, and that he purchased six sections before the chairman could 2ommun'c\te with the Commissioner }f Lands on the subject. In Council, Mr O'Conor made a ong defence, alleging that he had in:ended buying before, but was unable. ;o do so until that day on account-of i monetary difficulty, which he could lot explain without exposure of his >wn and another's affair-; and denyno that he knew of the committee's ■esolution, though present in room. The Provincial Solicitor moved, and Hr Kynnersley seconded a mot'o.i, vhieh without discussion was unauinously agreed to, that the evidence lisclosed a course of conduct on the >art of Mr O'Conor of a kind entirely inparalleled and unprecedented in the mnals of the Council, highly derogaory to its character, and demanding i ts severest reprobation. The Provincial Treasurer moved, ocouded by Mr Luckie, and also un- i nimously agreed to, that the Governor i e memorialised to withhold the Crown i h'ants for the sections so purchased. 1 Tho ' Examiner' of this morning i xys that, though Mr O'Conor has not 1 oue an inch outside legal rights, his t

act so far a3 appears at present, was an act of selfish scrambling by a man holding public trust. May 9. Copies of tho resolutions and evidence iu the case of Mr O'Conor will require to bo forwarded with the memorial from the Council to tho Governor. It is doubtful if he has power to refuse tho issue of the Crown grants. Juno 10. The " Evening Mail" in lengthy and temperate article says, the case against O'Conor is made out only too clearly, and there is no room whatever to doubt that when he went to the Laud Office he knew the intentions of committee, and had learned these intentions iu the committee-room as member for Westport. The " Mail " adds, that either Kynnersley, Shephard, Barnicoat, Rcid, Macinalion, and Tenant are guilty of wilfully and wickedly conspiring to wrong O'Conor, or O'Conor is guilty of uttering an entire and wilful falsehood. The " Mail " concludes by saying that O'Conor's conduct throughout this scandalous affair demands the severest reprobation, not only of fellow councillors but of the entire New Zealand public. (A telegram has been received, by residents in Westport, from Mr O'Conor, pleading that he should not be condemned unheard, and stating that*he bought the sections for the benefit of the people of Westport, and not for his own personal interest.) GREYMOUTH. June 10. A large cake of gold is expected from Mace's claim to bank here tomorrow.