The Westport Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1021, 12 November 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1872.

The oft reiterated arguments in favor of a Municipality for Westport have lost nothing in force or truthfulness by reason of the luko warm support ac carded to the promoters of the initiatory movement for its establishment, nor even from the still lingering traces of passive opposition from the few, the very few indeed, who choose to regard the proposition ns a mere emanation from interested individuals desirous of pecuniary gain or the advancement of personal interests. Some months have now elapsed since the petition for a muniiepality, which bore many signatures of our townsmon, was forwarded to head quarters, and the thanks of the Westport public are duo

to His Honor the Superintendent that, in this instance at least, he acted in accordance with their wishes and promptly gave his consent thereto. The petition thus strengthened reasched Wellington to receive the formal consent of the Governor in Council, but the time of its arrival was inopportune for the speedy consummation of the wishes of the petitioners. Amidst the din and turmoil of political strife, agitating the minds of public men, taxing to the utmost the working power of public departments, the modest plea of Westportians stood little chance of gaining prompt attention, and ic is only now, when happily for the country, the sessional debates have been brought to a conclusion, that some definite issue to the Westport petition may ho anticipated. Recent enquiry made by those of our townsmen to whom the business of the petition was first entrusted, shews that the Nelson Crown Lands Department is in some measure responsible for the past delay, in that certain maps necessarily to be inspected prior to the Governor giving his consent, have not b en forwarded to Wellington although applied for by the officers of the General Government. We do not wish to impute blame therein to any one; the delay has probably been unavoidable, and mention of the fact is merely necessary as being a point of which the public, so anxiously awaiting the result of the petition, should take cognizanee. We may hopo that the delay will now be of very brief duration, and that before the present year has passed away Westport may assume its proper position among the incorporated towns of New Zealand. The affairs of this place have been too long permitted by the Provincial governing body to drift into utter confusion, and the only excuse ever offered, the only explanation given why existing abuses have not been remedied has been that, Westport people never could accord ■in defining or limiting their requirements, present or prospective, and that every man has acted as if possessing, at all times and under all circumstances, a I'ight to do that which seemeth good in his own eyes. To some extent the rebuke has been deserved, but the petition for the proclaiming of a municipality is, in itself, a convincing proof that a new and better order of affairs now prevails, that this community is willing, nay anxious, to assume the responsi* bility of local management of public business, to relieve the Superintendent and his Executive of duties which, presumedly, are often irksome and at no time resulting in aught beyond very barren honor. Duties of which they may now free themselves without fear of slightest imputation of neglect of Provincial interests, seeing that the inhabitants of Westport are willing to take the direction of their own public affairs on their own hands. There iu an equal amount of intelligence, business aptitude, and energy amongst the inhabitants of Westport as in other places of even greater note, for the proper conduct of municipal affairs, and doubtless the Governor's consent will bo given as a matter of course, whenever the customary preliminary requirements have been fulfilled. To the very few amongst this community who may still doubt the wisdom or expediency of the step taken by their fellowtownsmen, the passing incidents of every day life, the outward and visible signs of neglect in public works to be met at every turn in their daily journeyings too and fro, should be sufficient proof that their doubts are but as the baseless fabric of a disordered fancy. If comparisons are of any weight in proving the advantages of Municipal Government and control, we may point to the public works now being perfected in the sister towns of Greymouth and Hokitika, as works similar to those upon which the almost immediate safety and protection of this town depends, but which this town will most certainly not obtain until some properly organized, fully accredited, and responsible public body is ushered into existence as a medium for communication with the governing powers, controlling the distribution and expenditure of public moneys. If further proof is needed we may go a little further a-field and show what even Wanganui has gained by being proclaimed a Municipality. Measures have just been passed by the Legislative giving the Wanganui Municipal Council the power of borrowing no less a sum than £50,000; that is £20,000, to be raised on debentures, for Bridge, Wharf, and Hospital pur-

poses, and £30,000 for gas supply, water and drainage. The responsibility of judicious expenditure of this sum has been entrusted to the local authorities, elected by a community of even less importance than Westport, if official figures may be accepted as correlative with commercial facts. The returns of Customs revenue for the past three years at the two ports, showing the following totals : Wanganui, £49,471; Westport, £58,479.