The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 148, 21 January 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1868.

" Sir Habet. Vane, Sir Harry Vane, may the Lord deliver me from Sir Harry Vane," were the memorable words uttered by the Lord Protector Cromwell when he was told of the proceedings of that Commons shortly before he dissolved the' Long Parliament ; and up to the present time the inhabitants of the Buller might say, " May the Lord preserve us from local candidates." We have both seen and heard, and cannot say that we have been much edified. Our predeliction is in favor of local men, but if we cannot find a local man capable of representing us and our interests, we must look abroad for somebody else. If nobody of any position does not consider it worth his while to come forward, or if the inhabitants only look upon the whole affair as a joke or " lark," we must certainly incline to Mr B'entley's opinion " that he did not consider that Westport was ripe enough for increased representation." We have before stated that this district does not require an orator, but only a man of common sense, who is capable of putting things together in something like shape, and not one who has not thought it worth his while to "coach" himself up; or who only makes it a stepping-stone to his own aggrandisement; or one who, with a great deal of energy, but has not the suaviter in modo requisite for a M.P.C. These are certainly not the men, with all the good intentions they may possess, necessary to make a member for Westport, and therefore we cannot exclaim with old Archimedes •'Eureka." This was painfully impressed upon our minds last evening when listening to Mr Thomas Goodwin, who evidently was not "up" in his subject, and although we have every confidence in his honesty of purpose, we are afraid he is not the man for

Westport. We have before expressed our opinions relative to Mr Graham and Mr Crate, and therefore need not now repeat them as they are unchanged; and now a word or two relative to the new gentlemen spoken of—Mr Smith and Mr Nath. Edwards, and in respect to the former we can say but very little, except that he is a very estimable and highly respected townsman, who, we think, would make a very respectable member for the Buller, but for the present, until we have more certain information, shall express ourselves no further. With regard to Mr Edwards, though a Nelson man, the case is different. He a shrewd, active, pushing man, and he has large connection with Westport, and is bound to push it about as much as possible, besides, he is an influential man in Nelson, and whose opinion carries a great deal of weight, and if he promises to perform a thing there is almost a certainty of its being done, and therefore, though decidedly in favor of a local man if competent, we are doubtful whether the Nelson man is not the best after w.iat has been mentioned as yet.