Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1872

The number of claims already submitted to Mr Commissioner Sharp by applicants entitled to participate in the proposed allocation of sections on tho new township site, sufficiently indicates the fact that tho people of Westport generally, are, so far favorably impressed with the merits of the scheme, that they are willing to see the experiment fully tested. The point upon which they are alone doubful is the probable result of the allotment of sections by ballot. The Commissioner will exercise his discretionary powers in classifying applicants according to their past losses, or extent and position of present proporty, and each applicant will thereupon be entitled to tako his chance, with tho other members of tho grade to which he is rated, in tho distribution by ballot of rights to sections, presumedly bearing some proportionate value to those he has already lost, or may hereafter be compelled to abandon. But, from the very speculative nature of the proposed distribution, it must inevitably follow that the chances will bo against even-handed justice being accorded to all claimants, even in a lottery whereiu every ticket wins a prize. The difficulty seems to be to devise any other method of settling the question. A new survey of a township site, on a plan identical with the original survey, naming each street, and numbering every section, in exact accordance with the original plan ; and then giving to each claimant the corresponding sections he occupied on the old site, would seem to be the most easily understood, and most equitable mode of procedure. But, assuming that insuperable obstacles prevent the adoption'of this plan, it is clearly the duty of the Provincial Government to take immediate steps to render the sections about to be allotted, of some actual worth. At present they are of little intrinsic value, nor will that value be much enhanced by individual possession, until approaches are made thereto, and the business centre of the town defined. Much stress is laid upon the intent to remove tho Government Buildings, to form a centre around which the business portion of the new township may radiate. Experience, however, points to the fact that the erection of Government oiuildiugs, in close contiguity to places of business, does not always conduce to the proper conduct of public affairs, nor to commercial convenience. In Westport especially the subject of paramount importance is not so'much the central position ol the Government Buildings, a* the formation of streets and by-waya, and the immediate erection of wharves. Westport has lately gained an un^nv : - able notoriety, as a port from whence in bad weather, vessels have to run for safety, for lack of wharves and moorings. Now as the river forms the great natural highway of commercial traffic, sections nearest thereto must eventually provo of the greatest worth, but no value can be assigned to them until the highway is utilised, and hence we fail to see how a just estimate of the present value of sections can be arrived at by the Commissioner or the public, unless the Government will at once fix upon the site for wharves, and guarantee the immediate erection thereof, in addition to the formation of streets and shifting of the Government Buildings. Concurrent action is needed in all these matters, and in fact will be found imperatively necessary to induce a general and systematic migration from the present site to the new one. It is a question also whether the progress of settlement would not be materially facilitated, and the Government at once relieved of much present and prospective responsibility, by allowing each occupier to become tho freehold possessor of his laud. Occupation under business licences is, at the best, but a mere makeshift, and wo very much doubt that it will long content the people of Westport. Upon the subject of the size of sections, it will be seen, by reference to 'another column, that a petition bearing fifty signatures, has been forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent, praying that enlarged areas may be granted. As a matter of expediency alone, as touching the future safety of the new town, the petition should be granted. It is already intended to leave a belt of growing timber along the river bank, and to, perhaps, erect an outer embankment to prevent the encroachment of floods, but it must be borne in mind that the township itself will be formed on the margin ot a swamp, and that the wholesale felling of timber, and driving of piles, for .the erection of buildings, will in no wise increase the stability of the site, especially if buildings are to be huddled together in the present pell mell fashion. Apart from the reasons mentioned in the petition, it is necessary, for the permanent protection of the township, that every house thereon should be isolated, and surrounded by a bolt of soil sown down to grass, and planted with deeply rooting shrubs or trees, or else heavily ballasted with stones and gravel. Tho teachings of tho past will be utterly disregarded if

precautious aro not taken, ab initio, in the formation of the new township, to prevent further loss and destruction of property.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18720705.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 985, 5 July 1872, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
867

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1872 Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 985, 5 July 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1872 Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 985, 5 July 1872, Page 2

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert