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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1223, 27 October 1874, Page 2

If any persons ought to feel astonished and indiguant at tho notice given by the Nelson Waste Lands Board of intention to sell the sections heretofore reserved as a continuation of Lytteltou and Nelson streets, they should be found among the members of the Westport Municipal Council. Their wishes, or opinions, as representatives of the ratepayers have been set at naught and their authority con* tcmptuously ignored. At least it may be assumed that the first intimutiou given the Council of intention to sell the sections in question was the officially advertised notice, for surely no member of that body, having respect for the solemn promise to faithfully do his duty, made on taking office, would withhold from bis fellow councillors any knowledge he may have gained of the intention of the Waste Land Board. The minutes of proceedings of the Council at least show that tho subject has not been discussed. The circumstances of this attempted spoliation within the municipal boundaries should arouse the Council to earnest action. Two lines of sections set apart tor streets, not for the convenience of a few individuals, but of necessity for public convenience, are suddenly put iu the market for sale, the implied contract made with owners of adjoining sections, who paid comparatively high prices for their land as possessing street frontages, is disregarded, aud with the numbers obscurely crowded in among a mass of other figures indicating sections to be sold, these sites are advertised to be sold also. And to whose gain ? Certainly not to the gain of the province. The competition for these sections will be unfair, for against the hard earned cash of some will be pitted the land scrip held by the lucky few to whom the Buller Towing Track has yielded pretty pickings. It is well known that at the ensuing sale of Westport sections the scrip now held will be realised. Thus the owners of sections in Lytteltou and Nelson street will bo compelled to accept the choice of seeing the approaches to their frontages aud buildings thereon blocked up, or pay high cash prices for laud which others more fortunate than themselves will get on easy terms. It is proposed to memorialise the Waste Lands Board to withdraw the sections from sale, and the signatures of all who choose to sign it will be accepted. This mode of procedure is unsatisfactory. Time was when the residents in Westport had no other mode of appeal for redress of grievances than by " petitions," and scarce ever a week passed by without some such document being circulated. Now Municipal rule prevails and to the Municipal Council should be entrusted all public matters. The extension of Lyttelton and Nelson streets is of absolute necessity. For purposes of traffic, for the public health, safeguard to prevent spread of fire, and for a score of other good and sufficient reasons, altogether apart from private interests, aud all coining within the direct scope and purpose of Municipal control. A petition to the Waste Lands Board from private individuals may be construed, as evidencing one of two things. Either that the petitioners believe the Waste Lands Board will not recognise the existence or authority of the Municipal Council or they themselves have lost all confidence in that body.