The Westport Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1115, 14 October 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1873.

The of the election yesterday may be presumed as being satisfactory to the elector* and elected. Even the one discomfited candidate, the odd man out in the chance game of the ballot, will have the satisfaction of knowing that if he has not won he has at least lost no great stake, and that bis turn may yet come, when perchance greater honor will await the victor. The distribution of seats in the new Local Board gives a very fair representation to the entire district, and although was said, and more vaguely hinted, as to the rivalry and clashing of interests between " town and country," there seems little fear that either interest will materially sufTer bv reason of overbearing or arb' riry* exercise of power. In fact, the two interests are so indissolubly united that any undue influence exerted will result in evil to both. It is to he regretted that this bugbear of conflicting interests has ever been allowed to exercise any disturbing local influence. Men, and many, to whom credit ha& been given for advanced and liberal idea*, have clamored long for local government. They have cried, give us the power and the right to expend our revenues locally derived for local purposes! For years past this has been the refrain of their pleading throughout the coastal goldrields, and at last, with tho success that more or less attends all persistent demands, tbey have obtained the power of

limited self-government. Within the one seaport town of tlio district, the future capital and chief emporium of South-West Nelson, municipal rule prevails. In the districts round ahout, local revenues are to be expended for local purposes, and although the machinery giving this power is as yet weak and imperfect, it is capable of expansion, and, under proper control, must prove of infinite service in raising the entire goldfield communities from the slough of despond into which they have been driven by the force of misrule and opposing influences. Not unreasonably it might be supposed that the recognition of the right of local government having been conceded, all classes, all parties, all associations, would have concurred in recognising the absolute necessity for united action. But as the little rift within the lute mars all melody, so too the incipient jealousies of new formed office herald a clashing of arms, which, if not staved at the outset, may work much evil. While, so far as yet known, the candidates for election to the Local Boards throughout the goldfields are in favor of material co-operation for the general good, and the speedy expansion of the powers of local government —the newly fledged members of the Municipal Council stand aloof, and avow that having achieved the liberty to rule the town their aspirations for local government are consummated. Tn effect, they say to the Westport District Board, and inferentially to all others, permit us to crow on our own little dust heap but don't intrude. If in this respect the members of the Council re-echo the general opinions of their townsmen, it is to be regretted that so much fervid eloquence and importunate pleading has been expended aforetime in Westport on behalf of local government. It is worth careful deliberation whether the establishment of AVestport as the centre of local rule, as affecting the entire district, would not be infinitely better than isolation therefrom.