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Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1091, 22 July 1873, Page 3

believe to have been a beneficial, though imperfect, change in that respect was brought about. .Subsequent circumstances, however, have placed matters in the position in which they originally were, if not worse; the position being aggravated by the fact that Executives are not improved, like turnips, by thinning, or, like wine, by age. More than during any previous session, it was this year patent to every member of the Council, including the membrr< of the Executive themselves, that tYq Government of the Province, as at present constituted, is deficient in force, if not in latent ability; and, if the session closed with any idea paramount in the minds of the members, it was that reform in that respect is absolutely necessary to enable the Council to even remotely represent and fulfil the wishes of the electorate. The reason of no. salutory change in this respect was simply that the session was the last of a series; but,should the apparently inevitable result of the election of Superintendent be realised, by the return of the present occupant of the office, it is to be hoped that such a reform will follow, otherwise the new Council can only become practically what the past Council made strenuous but unavailing efforts to avoid becoming—supernumeraries for stage effect. The result of the last session, so far as the Goldfields are concerned, was an increase in the number of representatives from six to eight That increase, though not according to the Goldfields their due proportion of reqresentation, should be influential in promoting the reform to which I have referred, but, failing that, it can only enhance the inability and costliness of the Council as a whole. Another measure which purported to be a concession to public demand, but which was only very partially so, was the division of the goldfields into districts, with provision for the formation of Local Boards. "While throughout its various stages, in company with other goldfields members, but ineffectually, opposing the Bill, I declined to sacrifice the work of the whole session when the repeated resolutions of the majority of the Council came to be confirmed on the third reading, and I justify my having done so by simply asserting my conviction that, if it produce no great good, it can do no harm, while it distinctly points in the direction in which future and fuller legislation ousrht to co.

With regard to matter more immediately affecting Westport and its district, it is due to the Government and to the Council to say that, for two sessions, there was exhibited a lively and sympathetic interest in,at least.one of these —the alleviation of losses sustained by residents of Westport, and the offering of inducements to them to continue settlers in the Province ; and, as mover in the matter, I can only regret that so little could be done to cope with the extraordinary vicissitudes which Westport and its inhabitants have experienced. Some substantial good, I hope, may also arise from the inquiries of the Committee regarding that estate which it is so much the interest of the Colouy and district to develop—the Mount Rochfort coalfield —and from the recommendation of the same Committee as to reform in the constitution of the Waste Lands Board. With neither subject had the Provincial Council the power to deal directly, but the spirit of their resolutions should not be without some weight in the Colonial Legislature, and, as regards the coalfield, it is impossible to suppose that a Government which has done such essential service in directing attention to the resources of the Colony require anything more than acquaintance with the value of the field, to urge them to the execution of those works for which provision has already been made. In regard to each of these matters, and others which it cannot be necessary to recount, I endeavored to act with the discretion which seemed to me best calculated to promote the interests of the district, without detriment to the rest of the Province. To others I took the liberty of being utterly indifferent, believing that, except for personal objects, there can be no good policy in attaining prominence by being one of a factious minority, nor good purpose in advocating that which there is not the slightest possibility of being carried out. Upon that principle my name does not appear as that of the proposer of numerous or magnificent items included in the Supplementary Estimates. Such additions as were made were minute, and on that account, and on account of their approval by the Government, I trust they will be expended, While regretting that, through the absence of the thing in nature, the rule was not without its exceptions, I take this opportunity of acknowledging the spirit of cordiality and courtesy by which other West Coast members were generally influenced in the treatment of matters concerning your district, and of their mover. I retire from the position in which you did me the honor of placing me, entertaining the hope that the importance of the interests of vour district will induce you to elect for the future a more eligible representative, and enjoying the belief that there are other capacities than that of a member of the Nelson Provincial Council in which, without any sacrifice of dignity, it is possible for a man to make himself useful in his day and generation. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Tour Obedient Servant, ALEXANDER REID.