HOW IT STRIKES A STRANGER.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1077, 3 June 1873, Page 2

HOW IT STRIKES A STRANGER.

{To the Editor oj the Westport Timss.) Under a thorough conviction that the future of Westport must be prosperous, that the past has been a miserable failure, in the sincere hope that the "Westport people will yet wake up and quit themselves like men, I forward you this contribution ; and as my purpose in writing this is for the welfare of the place I make no apology for using plain terms. The most remarkable fact that has often occurred to me is the singular fatality which appears to attend every effort made in this place to further auy public interest. Although no want of energy has been shown by the people of Westport in the matter of their coalfields, their efforts in that direction have been rendered abortive by the action of the Nelson Waste Lands Board. The Mount Rochfort Railway provided for uuder the great Public Works Scheme of the country—clearly a colonial and reproductive undertaking—remains untouched. After much virtuous and energetic action the townspeople have obtained the privileges of municipal rule, and " yet alter forty days" nothing has been done. Possessing one of the finest rivers on the West Coast, the wharfage accommodation is shameful, and the condition of the banks of the river—gradually dissolving before one's very eyes, without any attempt being made to save them—is a lasting disgrace to the present residents of the Buller. With plenty of the necessary material and labor to make and maintain in order the principal thoroughfares of the town, the streets remain dangerous to walk in after dark, in fact, unsafe during the day. A very significcnt illustration of the want of self-reliance and united action among the inhabitants of this place is shown in the conduct of the draymen who, with plenty of time on their hands, would rather work through rut holes and over large roots at the imminent risk of their own lives and the limbs of their horses, than trouble themselves to repair the road eveu for their own convenience.

The Provincial Government no doubt have been justly blamed for much neglect and mismanagment, but why the peoplo of this town coutent themselves with denouncing the Provincial authorities, while forgetting the duties which they owe to themselves as a Community, I never could understand, nor until my present visit could I ever ascertain a reasonable cause. Even now I may be wrong in my surmise, but I fear that the iuiluence of cutthroat ouchre iu which your wits and merchants indulge themselves, and whose example has mado the game fashionable in Westport, is at the bottom of all this misfortune. At all events it has introduced itself

into their public"relationship and poisoned the whole system. Business in Westport is conducted too much upon the cut-throat principle, and political co-he'siOn is rendered impossible by the rancor of personal animosities. The miserable squabble about'the old and new townships is a contention which threatens to end like the famous engagements between the two Kilkenny cats. This self-same bitter 'influence can be easily traced through the whole social fabric of Westporfc society. Whether you look at the Churches, 'or the Courts, the Athoeneum, 'or the. Social Institute, the Masonic or Odd FellowLodges, or even between tile publicans this same, uncomfortable contention exists. iSTo doubt '" opposition is the life of trade," but the oppositionists of Westport are the death of everything. The only profession I believe which is conducted in Westport under anything like sound opposition principles, is the legal, arid the 'two worthies who represent that profession, seem to understand 'wherein lies their strength and profit. It is when a small community like this gets into a chronic state bf internal dissension that the people become the victims of designing men who may either possess the power to crush them, or the effrontery to 'cajole them. United action under such circumstances being impossible, the influence of such a 'community for good, in any cause "whatever, is neutralized, and the old fable 'of the bundle of sticks repeats itself again in their experience. Such, I regret to write, are the impressions which decur to me as a casual visitor to Westport during 'the last six years, and are now handed to you for publication in the spirit of friendship, so that if the people 'of Westport could but " See themselves as others see them, It wad frao mohie a blunder frae them." «' and rouse them from their apathy, io / take fresh courage and new principles into the future, to be more considerate to the interests of the whole than the gratification of the few, to protect their trade and foster their local industries in self reliance and a spirit of mutual interest in unity arid forbearance to share worthily the duties of this important district iri all its many requirements, to have fewer prayers and petitions and inore united public spirit aud action. Then it will be found in their case, as it has been proved in the experience of many other places, that God helps them who help themselves. If this be done neither time nor opportunity will be found to engender those detestable cut-throat principles which so injuriously retard the progress of this place, and in the hope that it maybe found so before my next visit, I subscribe myself, A CoirsiEnciXL Tbavellee.