The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1051, 4 March 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1873.

His Honor tho Superintendent assumed a false position at the public meeting held on Wednesday last The invitation given him by residents here to publicly express his views on " matters now agitating the public mind" was made in no antagonistic spirit or desire for controversial argument, but solely as an act of courtesy, a token of respect for one holding the high position of Chief Magistrate of the Province. When, therefore, his Honor toek occasion to refer to the past, and iu making empty challenge to the Press and People to prove how and when he had failed in his public duty, endeavoured to throw the onus of proof upon those who had eome, neither to argue nor condemn, but rather to listen and applaud, he wandered beyond the record, and nearly drifted into a profitless disputation which it would have been better to avoid. For although no one accepted the " challenge," there were not a few present who, if his Honor had given previous " notice of motion," as is the custom in all honorable debate, could and probably would have refreshed his Houor's memory as to sundry aud various laches in public matters, and showed how, if not breaking the bond of actual promise, be has at times, like the weird sisterhood fooling Macbeth, excited expectation by promises implied. "That palter with us in a double sense; That keep the word of promise to our ear, And-break it to our hope." ; It would be an-easy matter to'turn over file after file of the " local papers," refer to a long array of such experiences ; an easier matter still to prove, a fact which scarce requires proof, that the Press in condemning has but expressed the opinions of the people, debarred from giviuo- effective.utterauce to such opinions Through any other medium ; for neither has written memorials nor.the spoken advocacy of representatives in Council availed aught iu the redress of grievances. In sooth, his Honor's challenge seemed ludicrous as well as illtimed, bearing apt comparison with the -challenge of some pot valiant village politician, who, safe in tho keening of law-abiding friends, would fain desperately engage in fisticuffs with the best man in the parish daring to disagree with him. It might have been for the moment disappointing to his Houor that none showed fight,°but his listeners in remembering 'that " silence is golden" remembered also the occasion of their meeting and the respect duo to the office of'their Superintendent. Few we think were there who grudged to his Houor the scant crumbs of comfort to be gleaned from the asservation of the one erratic individual who was "happy to endorse" his Houor's statement that he never failed to redeem a promise. But avoiding as well we may, all further mention of this matter, blotting out, if we could, from the record of memory the somewhat disingenuous line of argument whereby hi-s Honor sought to prove thatsavingtheNelson Groldfields from the greedy clutches of Westland he had "done the statesomeservice," — oblivious meanwhile of the tenacious memory of those who listening with due show of outward respect, smiled inly at their recollections of the tactics and scarce disguised motives of the the Nelson Anti-separationists,— we may, in all confidence, hail the promises made by his . Honor as to the future. If he carries out, in its integrity, the plan he has laid down for the settlement of the "sections question" in Westport, he will do more permanent service to this place than has resulted from all previous action of the Nelson Government. So too, if by his aid and influence, he obtains the commencement of the long proposed railway works, he will, in fulfilling his duty as Superintendent, materially enhance the prosperity of this long neglected portion of his Province. His purposed action for the division of the Groldfields into districts bears also the promise of good intent, but claims, as now but dimly shadowed forth,no present com. ment. To sum up in a word the attitude of the South-west Goldfields towards the Nelson Government, it is, as oft reiterated, simply defensive aud not antagonistic. So long as Nelson rulers seek to do justly in their dealings, will they find the oft' maligned people on the Goldfielda willing to couceed to their craving for undivided authority; but lacking this, will they find objection to Nelson misrule daily deepening in intensity—a fact whereof none should be so well assured as his Honor the Superintendent

The recent agitation made by the Terrace fanners anerit tho Orawaiti bridge was well timed and necessary. If, in their expression of opinion on the subject, they spoke more warmly than formal etiquette usually permits, it must b<; remembered they felt deeply, and due allowance must be made lor the cauße wherein tbey strove and the sense of rankling injustice thereto inciting them. Tears ago when mining affairs were infinitely more prosperous on the Terraces than now, and men paying a toll for cross-

ing too and fro the river tbat cut them oil* from Westport, did so from their loose cash, and cared little for the reckoning, even then not a few grudged the daily toll as a species of black mail that no decent government should stoop to levy. In course of time by dint of persuasive influence, and perchance incited thereto by some faintly flickering promptings of common sense and common justice, tho Nelson Government made an effort, and, wonderful to relate, not ouly paid a price for the Orawaiti Bridge, hut refrained from making it longer a source of revenue: throwing it open to the public Whereat the public rejoiced, and the men of muscle on the Terraces wore jubilant. But the bright glimpse of Nelson liberality was soon o'ershadowed. The bridge, as is the nature of things mundane, decayed and the Nelson Exchequer gave naught for its renewing. From bad it gradually sank to worse, until it reached a condition of exceeding dilapidation, and it became not merely a Bridge of Sighs, but a bridge provoking from wayfarers maledictions deep and earnest. It was and is, in face a gigantic man-trap, a tottering monument of parsimonious dealing. Begotten not of true economy but of a grudging disposition, hesitating over the expenditure of the additional money that would, if promptly made, have improved the purchased property of the Neison Government, and yielded to the public the continuance of a boon that should never have been disputed. As a last resort the right to establish a ferry in close contiguity to the Bridge, and to levy tolls thereon has been granted, and the bridge it is said has been doomed to demolition. Whereat of course those whose daily avocations cause them to use the bridge, have wared indignant, and appealing to the Superintendent have said in plain words, we want the old bridge repaired, it will yet suit for horse and foot traffic after a little outlay thereon. We object to pay a ferry toll, and if you will not repair the bridge, we shall build another higher up the stream, and snap our fingers at your ferryman. All of which is perhaps unconstitutional, and calculated to make each particular hair on our worthy Superintendent's head, staud right on end in amazement. But none the less are such words in earnest, and his Honor, making a virtue of necessity, or haply anxious to grant all safe and easy concessions, has promised that if the Provincial Engineer should favorably report thereon, the bridge shall be repaired, and promptly. Wherewith the men of the Terraces are meanwhile satisfied, but none the less are they determined that, report or no report, they will oppose by "every legal and constitutional means" the imposition of punt charges at the Orawaiti crossing. We may hope that their persistency of purpose may not be sorely tried, or the dignity of the ruling powers imperilled by an unseemly quarrel.

By the fast and favorite paddle steadier Result, a numerous company of vogagenrs went on Saturday last to Mokihinui, some intent on permanent settlement there, and others like the Israelites of old inclined to spy out the riches Of the laud, Some of the promoters of the new Halcyon quarlz mining company were among the number, taking with them stores, mining materiel aud also a boat for river traffic. There was also on board Mr Castles, one of the earliest settlers on the Buller; who has gone up there with a supply of stores to the Karamea, intending to make that place his permanent habitat; having in addition to the prospective chances of his store business, secured the right to a ferry across the river. The prospects at either place aro good. The stone brought down from the Molukinui, and of which good samples may be seen at Martin's Hotel, is as good, or better than specimens that have before now set whole communities in a ferment of excitement, and there is not tho slightest doubt that one of a series of valuable reefs has been opened up, that will prove the correctness of the opinion maintained on the coast by a few for years past that tho Mokihinui is very rich indeed in mineral resources. From the Karamea also good news comes to hand. Whispered rumorus of exceedingly good alluvial ground, and the stealthy packing up of a wags, and making tracks in the early morn by the few men not obtaining regular work in town, or others looking out for the chanco of a good thing in mining, tells plainly that some are on a rich ground there, and that none need be despondent of the future prospects on the Coast.

The recWes3 manner in which the work of clearing sections by means of lire is carried on afc tbo ne\r township site, is a subject needing severe animadversion. On Sundaylast, the newly erected residence of Mr Robert Whyte, was in jeopardy from the sudden approach of the flames from a rata tree set on fire and left unheeded. Owing to the long prevailing drought, the half withered vegetation and undergrowth burnt like tinder, and the flames travelled the ground at a dangerous speed. Happening on Sunday there were but few people about, but Serjeant Kiely's attention having been drawn to the danger, lie promptly turned out all the male prisoners, and put them to work to beat out the flames and throw up hasty earthworks to stay their further progress. Thus, luckily, a disaster was adverted, but none the less culpable were those who first started tho blaze. On Sunday evening too there was a heap of fallen timber and brushwood burning in dangerous proximity to Mr Carrie's cottage, and sending up ,a shower of sparks that, had the slightest breeze prevailed, might have borne mischief. >

The votaries of Terpsichoro who, once a week, assemble at the Masonic Hall, to trip it lightly on the fantastic, have of late been debarred from their usual assemblies by tho exigencies of dramatic performances, political assemblies and what not, but this evening the usual reunion takes place, and a very full aitendance is anticipated. The promoters of these pleasant Tuesday evening gatherings may be congratulated upon tho success that has attended their efforts to promote an enjoyable and select evenings amusement. Those ladies and gentlemen whoha\eno: already secured the right of milree will flud the preliminary arrangements qui te easy ot accomplishment.

The work of dismantling the Post-office Hotel has been very rapidly proceeded with. Mr Taylor the contractor, has lost no time in reducing the once sightly building to a wreck of its former self, to the removal of the material to Wakefield street, when in due courso of lime it will furnish its quota towards the. erection of a spacious and substantial | Hotel that will eclipse in appearance and dimensions all past or present buildings ill Westport. Hearing its lofty front amid the-leafy solitudes, it will stand :ib a lasting mc/burnout of good faith in the future greatness and commercial activity of Westport. The Carandini family are expected at Westport by the Kennedy on her next trip from southward. , Murray's circus troupe after a successful season at Charleston, went south yesterday for Hokitika. T'.ve horses having been sent overland from Charleston. A splnedid meteor was seen last night ahout 9 o'clock, hashing southward. It passed right over the town, and as it vanished from sight it left behind a brilliant streak of light; which was visible for nearly Ave minutes. The sight was magnificent. It said the prospects of Andersons claim were never looking better than at present, the reef showing a decided improvement, averaging now from two to three feet thick throughout. Crushing was to have commenced yesterday and will continue for two months. The long continuing draught is becoming a serious inconvenience. Not only are mining operations at a standstill at the Reefs, but on all the alluvial diggings, the cry is for water. Heaps of v/ashdirt are stacked awaiting the replenishment of dams, which are for the most part empty, and throughout the district work is well nigh at a standstill and, as an inevitable consequence, the circulating medium is as an unknown quantity, unfelt and unseen. In town the lack of water is causing tribulation in everyhousehold, tanks are empty, barrels all agape; and bucket exercise, t 0 the river bank at early, morn is an occupation indulged in, not from choice but from sheer necessity. By providentaldispensation the town is spared the cry of " fire " and thus spared, escapes destruction. The dry weather, continuing as it has for an almost unprecedented interval, on the West Coast, has to some extent parched and withered up the garden crops grown in this vicinity, but not sufficiently to affect the general supply. Our local gardeners have for some time past brought in a supply of vegetables almost in excess of the town requirements and the supply has not only been abundant in*quantity but also good in quality, excelling in fact, the scant supplies sent down from' Nelson. Wo can hardly yet compete with Nelson fruit growers, but as far as vegetables are concerned the local supply is fully adequate to meet all local demands, and the crops of potatoes, onions,andtnruip3,fromaroundthe neighborhood of Westport will go far to supply the winter requirements. Added to this the farmers in the Inangahua district are jn'oducing not only roots but grain in quantities sufficient to more than supply all present demands in that, quarter, and it is said up-river boats will soon obtain return cargoes of produce for the Westport market. Another season or so and the South-west Goldfields will be independent of all outward supplies of agricultural produce. Referring to the difficulties which the Westland County Council will have to encounter m the work of retrenchment, the West Coast Times says the proposal to reduce the number of Wardens and Wardens Clerks is likely to occasion no little wonder. At Ross and Waimea there has been much agitation to retain the Wardens but at present it is understood that AVarden Fitzgerald of Hokitika will be expected to perform their ducies in addition to those appertaining to his own district. There has not been much agitation in icspect to Wardon's clerks, and the Times says :—Of the necessity of reducing the number of these members of the civil service of the County we have no doubt whatever. Some of t hem must have suffered dreadful torture when receiving their pay, knowing so well how little has been the work they have done in return for money received from this impoverished County. We can well imagine how tedious it must to sit in an office without anything to do, and we can conceive that the officer doomed to such a life for £250 per annum may well consider ho has hard times indeed. We know, however, of one gentleman who has very ingeniously contrived to take the salary attached to his fearfully tedious office without iindergoing the misery of the tedium. This he did by affixing a notice over the pigeon-hole at which mining applicants were (or are, for the notice is there still) wont to stand; to the effect that if the clerk were not in the office they were to stand in view of his house, and he would come out to them. Now, as it happened ithat this model of a Warden's Clerk preferred to keep his quarters in his own house, to staying in the office, it was not at all uncommon to see several poor miners waiting with folded arms'• in view" of the Clerk's house for hours without his coming out to them. It has even been known that miners have come from a distant part of the district for three consecutive days before tbey could get their business attended to, though they did stand in view of his house. Prom a report of a recent meeting of members of the Interprovincial and Vienna Exhibition Committee, we obtain the following particulars of interest to our Westport and Reefton readers. A resolution was passed that tho granting of medals be confined to exhibits and that with this condition the following scheme be adopted viz: That in cases were first prizes, awarded, prize medals be given; where second prizes, certificates of high commendation; where third prizes, certificates of commendation. A telegram from Christchurch, dated Feb. 21 says:—The awards of medals, &c, in the Christchurch Exhibition, were made to-day. The Exhibition Committees at Reefton and Westport receive bronze medals for exhibits of ores. The following claims at the Inangahua and Lyell get first-class certificates for success in mining enterprise :—United Band of Hope; Golden Hill, Anderson's Creek; Golden Fleece, Alpine, Little Wonder. Mr Wooley, of Reefton, gets a firstclass certificate for maps, as also Mr Ranf t. Miss Stephenson's first performances at Hokitika, on Tuesday evening, when she played Julia in the "Hunchback" is described by the Times as a brilliant success. Mr Ivess has succeeded in registering in Reefton District rather more than 2uo qualified electors, who had previously been quite content to ignore their political privileges. A'good number has been also registered by tho efforts of tho Committoes appointed for the Buller District, but it would be well for that Committee to meet together and report progress and devise ways and means to ensure that every man in his right mind, throughout the district; eligible to receive the pvivilege,should figure on the next roll of free and independent electors. His Honor the Superintendent sends the following disclaimer to the Greymouth Star, which we have much pleasure in republish-

ing. Sir, —Your paper of the 24th inst. contains in a telegram from Charleston, relative to a speech I made at a public meeting there, a statement which I feel called upon to contradict, especially as you have commented upon it in a leading article. The telegram asserts that I " chided the goldfields for sending tho worst class of men to the Provincial Council." I made no reference whatever to the members of the Provincial Council. I was speaking of Road Boards, and the clas3 of men commonly elected to serve upon them in the goldfields of this Colony.—l am, &c., Oswald Curtis.