THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY AND THE BOROUGH COUNCIL AFFAIRS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1186, 26 June 1874, Page 4

THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY AND THE BOROUGH COUNCIL AFFAIRS.

(To Hie-Editor of the Westport Times.)

Sir, —The more the attention given to Mr O'Conor's speech delivered at the Court House on Juno 18th, the more is one's suspicion excited, and the stronger the impression that (for the present at least) his heart is not at Westport. It is verily an extraordinary speech when we reflect that it comes from a Westport man, and especially Mr O'Conor; and perfectly ludicrous is the manner in which he effects ignorance of the proceedings of the Borough Council re the Colliery Pieserve. It is startling as emanating from the Provincial Secretary, who from his official capacity is presumed cognisant of all the hidden mysteries of government. And Mr O'Conor did know much more than he deemed'prudent to divulge to his innocent constituents. AVhat is to be thought, of. Mr O'Conor telling the meeting, " he would like the management of the Reserve taken away from the Waste Lands' Board, and a Crown Grant given by the General Govern-, ment to the Superintendent of the Province, and thus the 'Provincial Council would be in a position to give fixity of tenure to all the present occupiers of the sections on the Reserve for, say fourteen years. He had brought forward the' subject not by virtue of his office as Provincial Secretary, but as a duty incumbent on him as representative of Westport in the Provincial Council?" and suppressing what he told the deputation that waited upon him at the Ahaura, viz., " that the Provincial Council was about making application to the General Assembly for leave to raise a loan." Had this intention of the Provincial Council been stated, the meeting would have understood all about " giving the Crown Grant of the Reserve to the Superintendent," for the people, of Westport and Mr O'Conor arc well aware of the value of the Reserve whether .applied.as security, or a means of raising money. But no, in the midst of the " dust" and agitation, he stood sphinx-like with the solution of his mystery buried in his besom, and rather attempted to excite the approbation of those concerned by conjuring up the spectre of the General Government (unless his demand be at ouce conceded), sweeping down upon them, and <: running up their rents to a material increase." What sign would represent the.eflicacy of "a fixity of tenure," bestowed by the Provincial Council rather than the Borough Council ? Everyone is pretty well convinced that should the Provincal Council gel; the Crown grant of tho Reserve, the Borough Council would be minus the revenue, and consequently the town minus improvements, unless heavy rates be struck. The Borough Council, like Mr O'Conor, is well aware that it has a " good thing " in hand, and heedless of his " Sound argument," &c., is determined to have and to hold it. Yet, that the meeting should have passed Mr O'Conor's resolution truly passeth all understanding, for its principle directly militates against the action of the Borough Council that was doing so well; it having " memorialised the General Government for tho Crown Grant," to bo given to it, which in effect and substance would place all desired in tho Council's hands ; "the right of revenue and rigtit of management,"

In tho face of all this the meeting tamoly submitted to be persuaded to j request of the General Government " That in tho interest of the Westporb people,, the right of property in sectidtis be definod !!'" thus stultifying the action of tho Borough Council. -Whether this extraordinary result was brought about through dread of having the tents advanced, or by the acceptance of the interpretation given by Mr o'Conor to the telegram sent by Mr Curtis to tho Borough Council, to which they should not have stooped to listen, (and especially si nee the Borough Council had considered it "bona fide" and had acted upon it, and which the General Government acknowledged by telegram), it is difficult to determine. However, the following reflection forces" itself upon one, that it is quite a fair inference from the proceedings of. the meeting, that certain peqpje in Westporb should be considered as most easily '' gulled," or held not responsible for their actions. I am, &c:, j