The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 984, 2 July 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1872.

The Nelson Government, with a promptitude that augurs well for the fulfilment of the expressed wish and intent to at last do all that can possibly be done, to render justice to the long suffering people of Westport, have already sent here Mr Commissioner Sharp, armed with full power andauthorityto commence preliminary proceedings in deciding claims for sections on the new township site. A 8 will be observed by the notification appearing in another column Mr Commissioner Sharp requests all former owners of sections which have been washed awav, or owners of sites at present liable to sea or river encroachment, and who are desirous of availing themselves of the offer made by the Provincial Government, to

prefer their claims daily at the Court House. Mr Dobson is uow in Nelson, and is prepared to submit to the consideration of his Honor and Executivo, a scheme for the allocation and sale, on easy terms, of allotments, first, to those who have been already losers, secondly, to those whose present holdings are in danger, and thereafter, to the general public. Of the details 'we shall here m< re anon.

Having already published two reports by Mr Dobson as to the condition of Westport, it is bitt fair and appropriate that, even a little late in the day, we should publish the third and last report by him on the same subject. It is lair to Mr Dobson, and to the Select Committee of the Provincial Council, whose views prove to exactly coincide with his, except as to the system of occupying the upper portion of the Colliery Reserve, and the difference of their opinion on that point was solely due to the circumstance that Mr Dobtion's views were not consonant with the Nelson Waste Lands Act. Mr Dobson's report was written on June Ist, but was not received by the Government till June sth. On the previous day—the memorable June 4th—the Committee had anticipated Mr Dobson's suggestions by recommending the withdrawing the freehold land from sale, and on the same day, as at a previous meeting, Mr lteid had submitted draft propositions almost identical with those of Mr Dobson, whose rep art had considerable weight with the Committee in arriving at their ultimate conclusion. The following is the report referred to : Sir, —In my report on the February floods, I casually mentioned the proposition which h.id been made by the inhabitants of Westport respecting the throwing open of the upper portion of the Coal Reserve for occupation, and strougly deprecated such a course. Since then a number of the best business sites iu the present occupied part of the town have been destroyed by the combined action of the sea and river, and all the inhabited portion is threatened, so as to destroy all public confidence, and effectually deter the inhabitants from rebuilding. In consequence of the danger threatening the present, I have considered it advisable to recommend the construction of Palmerston street, and the removal of the Government offices to the upper end of the reserve for public buildings, and the creation of a wharf at the upper end of the deep water. If this course is adopted, it will undoubtedly have the effect of removing the town ; for the banks and business people are sure to follow the Government offices, and the security of- the site and the adaptability of the soil for general purposes will induce numbers to build who have been hitherto afraid to do so. The question then arises as to how the present inhabitants are to obtain ground for building upon—the land on the east side of Palmerston street being mostly sold. The owners of a great number of the section are absentees, not to be found, and the few freeholders who can be found ask such high prices for their land, either to let or sell, that it is quite boyond the means of the already half ruined inhabitants to trade with them. In consideration of these facts I think it becomes a question which may well occupy the attention of the Government, as to whether it would not be advisable to devise (if consistent with the Land Regulations) some plan of allotting sectious to those who are washed out, or are at present in danger of being so, and who are desirous of at once erecting places of business or residences. With this view I would propose that 50 or GO sections be laid out on the river side of Palmerston street, above the continuation of Wakefield street, or if the sections on the east side of the street are not all sold, some of them might also be luithdrawn from ordinary sale, and that the sections so selected be sold to those persons who are washed out, (conditionally on their erecting substantial buildings upon them within a given period) at a price fixed by fie Waste Lands Board. That the price fixed must be paid on application, and the grant issued when the conditions have been fulfilled, failing which, the money paid to be forfeited to the Government, and the laud to be given up. In suggesting this proposition, I have not in the least considered it as a means of compensating any one for losses sustained, but merely as an expedient to prevent the present population from leaving, and to encourage settlement. Throwing open the Reserve for occupation under business licences, would not, I consider, effect the desired result, for the sections, as soon as surveyed, would be pegged out by squatters, who would hope to realise a handsome profit out of the transaction, and the business men would be in as bad a position as now. The question of compensation I would not admit. Whatever course the Government may adopt, it is of great importance that the decision be communicated to the people as soon.as possible, as all permanent building &c, is at a standstill, until it is known what the Government intend doing, especially as to the future site of the Government offices. This proposition may seem at first sight a strange one, but the exceptional circumstances of the case must be considered, and I have great doubts that unless some plan be devised tor the occupation of the land, by the existing population, on ensier'terms than that of purchasing from the present holders, a large portion of the best of the population will leave the place, and it must be remembered the freeholders have done

but little or nothing for their part, only one freehold section being occupied on the east side of Palmers ton street."