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Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1125, 18 November 1873, Page 2

Fault has been found by Mr O'Conor's supporters in Westport that the reports published in our last issue of the two meetings at the Masonic Hall, did not do hiin justice. Of course we never anticipated pleasing either Mr O'Conor or his admirers. Mr O'Conor has long been a martyr to a a persecuting and servile press, and his friends, walking humbly in his footsteps, think, for the present, as he thinks, and growl even as he growls. But to the subject of their complaint. They say his speech was cut down to little more than two columns, while we gave Mr Curtis nearly six. Flagrant partiality and injustice !! They choose to forget though that on the 14th of October Mr O'Conor, when speaking on similar topics, got reported to the extent of five columns, and thus the balance is in his favor. But 'tis the custom just now in Westport to be forgetful of past services. If prejudice and party feeling did not so strongly prevail we might obtain some little credit for good intention in suppressing portions of Mr O'Conor's last speech—a speech which his best supporters here condemn as having been in the worst possible taste,and degenerating to the extremeofeven O'Conorite abuse. A speech which lost him many votes, and created against him a strong feeling of contempt among those who, approving of the moderate tone of his first speech (which was reported fully), were inclined to support him. Another complaint made is that the professional gentleman at present doing some special pleading on behalf of Mr O'Conor, and his assistant who, in the role of a disgusted digger, "took the stage" and spoke his piece, were not reported. Now even much enduring reporters must draw the line of duty somewhere, and the reporter of the Westport Times draws his at shams. Election speeches, at the best, are but means enabling candidates to get their utterances gratuitously advertised, but it is a too violent stretch of good nature to suppose that the sayings and doings of any candidate's troupe of claqueurs will be advertised gratuitously also, The first step towards the commencement of the long talked of railway works has been at last taken, Mr A.. D. Dobson, District Engineer, having received instructions to commence the survey. It is said that, as soon as the survey is so far effected, the first section of the railway will be made to the foot of the terraces beyond the Or.i waiti, for the purpose of bringing in stone for the river protective works, so that the harbor and railway works may hereafter proceed simultaneously. Mr Surveyor Cooper, from Greymouth, and a staff of field men, has gone up to the Mount Eochfort district to survey areas applied for under leases. A living presentment of one of Dame Nature's most eccentric freaks will be on view at the Masonic Hall this afternoon and evening, The Hairless Horse "Caoutchouc" (Koochook in the vernacular) will be exhibited, and as a curiosity unparalleled should attract a numerous levee. The history of the indiarubber nag has been circulated by means of hand-bills during the last day or two, and expectation has been thereby t x cited. Intending visitors ruay rest satisfied that the tale as told is strictly true, and that the horse is as bare of hirsute adornment as a copper coal scuttle:

At tlio last sitting of the Nelson Central Board of Education the Rev. A. C. Sou tar was heard in explanation as to unauthorised expenditure of £2l 8s 8d by the Westport School Committee, and it was proposed that the money should be paid by the Board, but an amendmsnt was agreed to that a Committee should be formed to scrutinize the items before payment. It was resolved that £ls bo expended on additional formj and desks for use in theWestport school. On consideration of a letter from the Secretary to the Westport Committee, applying for additional school accommodation, and for a teacher's house ; it was resolved, " That the Westport Committee be informed that no funds beyond those already voted will bo available for the erection of new buildings during the current year, and further that the addition to the school at present being built will, in the opinion of the Board, give ample accommodation to as many chillren as ace likoly to attend for some time."