The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 280, 24 June 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1868.

' The faith of oven Mr Curtis, who is admittedly demented on one subject, < the Nelson and West Coast railway, must have received a severe shock on hearing Mr Morrison's opinion as to the feasability of the scheme. As a matter of course, Mr Morrison being the London agent for the province, and receiving a handsome salary for very little work, would undertake to : bring any project forward, that the Executive chose, no matter how hopeless, or how absurd. It is not for him. in the relationship he stands to the Nelson authorities, to make any demur to performing certain duty, though he may at the same time be perfectly convinced that he might as well expect a sieve t j float across the ocean, as this enterprise to-float on the well cared for capital of the London millionaires. lie does not even conceal his fears on the subject, and the conference he had with the Provincial Council, should have gone far to satisfy them of the impracticability of the whole proposition. In the conversation that took place, ho considered it a sins qua non that the Brunner and the Mount Eochfort coal mines, as well as every other mineral contained along, or within the 19 mile margin of the railway, should be given up to the company, otherwise capitalists would not look at it. Some people on the coast are under the impression that the benefits (if any) from the formation of the railway are to be immediate. Hear what Mr Morrison says, on this subject. "We quote his exact words " If an accredited person went to England to negotiate, you might expect to _ hear something respecting the undertaking in about twelve months Prom this time.'''' That is to say in another year the Londoners would begin to pay some attention to the matter, in two, possibly, if everything was favourable, set about it, and in three years after that, complete it. What a lively prospect for the "West Coast. In the meanwhile the coal mines arc to be closed, while the great Panjandrum of British merchants makes up its mind, and one of the most permanent and productive sources of our mineral wealth is to be sealed up. Possibly Moneybags will graciously accept our little trifles—possibly decline them as being risky speculations; iu the one case we are robbed, in the other we are befooled. Truly we have much to be grateful for to Curtis and Co. The outside expression of confidence in his mission that could be extracted out of MrMorison, who evidently seems to be at present far more fully in possession of his senses than the Executive, in favor of the scheme was this—avc again extract his ipsissima verba — i " I cannot say what chance there is of forming a company. I have no idea whether the undertaking would be i successful or otherwise, but I think it i is worth trying." On such an airy ] fabric; of probability do the railway i stricken of Nelson found brilliant i visions of the future, and of the great- | ness that is to overshadow their land, i

when tho iron horse drags wealth and affluence to their doors from" tho more inhospitable but richer regions of the west. Can anything be more* hairbrainefl than calculating on such a small chance, and in the face of such overwhelming odds. Mr Morison went on to say that before anything could be done an engineer would be sent from England to report on and carefully survey the lines; that tliero was great distrust in England with regard to any such scheme, and he candidly confessed that he would rather some one should bo sent to launch it—concluding by saying "I would rather have nothing to do with tho scheme further than assisting some person accredited by tho Government." In the face of this plain speaking the Government insist on the insane project being persisted in, and Messrs Morison, Wrigg, and we presume some one else as tho " accredited agent" required by Mr Morison, will be sent to England, and a few thousand pounds bo fooled away.

So much for the Nelson view of tho question, but we rather think that they have reckoned very considerably without their hosts in this matter, and that there are a few people who reside on the western side of the province who will have something to say about it, if it ever becomes serious. Do the Nelson Executive think the West Coast people so besottedly stupid as to allow their mineral wealth to be given away in this wholesale manner, without saying so much as with your leave or by your leave, for the benefit of a few Nelson merchants ? Is it at all possible that a strip of country 19i miles broad and 202 miles long is to be handed over in this cool way. The various mineral wealth in it is known to be enormous, the probable value of it can hardly be computed, and is it likely the West Coast population will passively permit itself to be thus despoiled ? We are bound by a very slender tie of interest to Nelson, our water carriage suffices for all our wants, whether of passengers or of traffic, and a railway in fact, would be about as much use to us as the fifth wheel of a coach would be to that vehicle. It is not only possible, but probable, that before the preliminary twelvemonths Mr Morrison speaks of has elapsed, a new county may be formed and a Local Executive rule over Westland North. Nothing can hasten such a contingency sooner than the infatuation shown in reference to tbis railway. It is time for every one on the Coast at ence, and before the Province is further pledged to the scheme, to reflect on the gaiu or loss of separation. We candidly confess that we think the time is at hand, when we should take our own affairs into our own keeping; we have many reasons for this conviction, but few more cogent than the recklessly foolish course the Nelson Government have chosen to pursue in this railway scheme.