The Westport Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1874.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1164, 3 April 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1874.

The Westport Borough Councillors are perplexed, and more, they arc annoyed at the action of the Provincial Government. The Council, in the exercise of public duty, desires to improve the rugged thorough fa res of the lrumici. pality, and as a commencement would improve the only street at present available for general traffic. To this end the Council has invited tenders for the work necessary to reduce gradients, to extend the width of the street, and to * smooth away or fill up deviations from the horizontal, but " the be<t laid plans of men and mice gang oft; aglec." The Council reckoning without the host finds itself in a predicament There is a fatality in Westport public matters that is ever present. If one section of I he community decides, in the exercise of pub lie duty, to go to the right, another instantly springs into existence and de clares that they will go to the left, and the proverbial game of pull devil pull

baker is played over and over again with endless variations. In the present instance there is no exception to the rule. The Council wish to improve Palmerston street. An outside party wish that other streets should be cleared, in order, as they aver, to promote the occupation of eligible sections. The outside party is for the time tlio strongest. The Council advertising for tenders from contractors for work in Palmerston street get eligible oilers, but suddenly find good intentions frustrated. An edict or ukase goes forth that no more gravel shall he taken from the place aforetime used and most easily available. Appeal is mado to the Provincial Government, and back comes a curt telegraphic reply confirming the dictum of local authority. Herein the Municipal Council finds cause for perplexity and annoyance. If explanation had been vouchsafed why the gravel pits should not bo used, or some alternative course suggested, the Council would have been content, but to be coolly snubbed by a display of official indifference —we might use a stronger term —is not one of the tilings which even a Municipal Council submits to as a necessary evil, and little wonder can arise that the Town Councillors are indignant. Having taken office with the earnest intent of doing their duty to the bast of their abilities it is annoying and exasperating to the members of the Council to find themselves thwarted at every turn by obstructionists who happen for the time being to possess indirect influence at head quarters, enabling them to work out their own little projects. For the due and healthy expansion of public opinion it is meet and necessary that there should be two parties to argue upon and support both sides of everv question, but the pity is that in AVcstport diverse argument in public affairs is entered on, not on public grounds, but mainly to promote private interests. There is more that a suspicion afloat that the action against the Municipal Council in re gravel pits thus originates. The upshot of the present position of affairs will poobahly bo that the Borough Council wdl'let Palmerston street remain for the coming winter season in all its manifest deformities, and will not trouble about other thoroughfares until the ratepayers, or at least those who assume to represent the ratepayers, are found in more pliant and conciliatory mood. In fact the fi> - st symptom of resting on their oars is shown by the decision already arrived at of meeting for business but once in every fortnight.