The Westport Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1874.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1201, 11 August 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1874.

The expediency of taifing time by the forelock has suddenly been impressed on the minds of certain members of the "Westport Borough Council. Scarcely has the news arrived that one among many tenders has been accepted for construction of a portion of the Westport and Mount ltochfort Eailway, when they hasten to make arrangements for the conventional ceremony of turning the first sod. Their alacrity betokeus one of two things. Either a desire to carry out some preconcerted arrangement, known only as yet to a favored few, or a sudden rousing up of energy in the discharge of public duty not hitherto made very manifest. Assuming for the nonce that the latter impulse has moved them to action, the result of the special meeting to be held this eveuiu" will be watched for with interest. The public doubtless will be satisfied to leave the whole matter in the hands of the Borough Council, as having authority and as entitled to any incidental honor arising from celebratiou of the event. True, it is fresh ia the memory of Borough Councillors Unit they were lately competed to listen and forbear while told by one of prese-it higher authority than themselves that they were as naught in public esteem, and uulitted to hold a public trust, but such words were but as the tinkling

of a brazen vessel, and they pitied more than condetnued the petulance of one upon whom new dignities sat as an ill fitting garment. Though tho taunt was none tho less an insult to tho Council, and to those placing them in in office. Tho appointment of a committee from among members of tho Council will be but a necessary pre-" liminaty to devising and perfecting a host of Uttle details, wherein active assistance of many heads and many hands will be needed. Two lines of action arc opea to the Council. Either to inakc an elaborate celebration, obtaining a fulfilment of the promise already made by tho Premier aod the Minister of Public Works to visit Westport at some convenient season, and arranging that such visit shall be for the special purpose o" inaugurating the public wo*ks of the district, or, if such honor can not presentlv be obtained, then the other course is open o" holdiog a purely municipal celebration. Upon the Mayor, as Chief Magistrate of the people, the honor of beuig chief actor in the ceremony shoukl in such case be conferred. His modesty, as au individual, might possibly prompt him to decline the distinction, but the sense of duty incumbent on his office shoold prompt him to readily acquiesce. It is not that any oue individual more than another connected with this community can claim the greater share of praise for efforts made to bring about the commencement of public works in this district, Each and every man in his place has helped his best therein. To some have been granted greater opportunities than to others, but such have no right to claim a greater meed of praise. It has been by the united and persistent action of the people, bv the aid of their money, by their petitions and remonstrances, by the voices of their representatives repeating their cry, and by the writings of their press, that at last, after years of weary waiting, the Government of the colouy has recognised the importance of the district aad the outlet therein for profitable expenditure of public money. It would be an evidence of rankest egotism and self-conceit for any one individual to assert that he more than his neighbor has hastened on the work. The Mavoi* of Westport is above all imputation of seeking after vain glory, and in conferring on him the honor of turning tho first sod of the railway the people will in effect be doing honor to themselves. They have claim to the greater mack of recognition in the personal visit of members of the Ministry, and such the Council will no doubt first endeavour to obtain.