PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 343, 5 September 1868, Page 7

PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Progress Committee was held on Tuesday evening at the Melbourne Hotel, there being present Messrs Grasquoine, Kennedy, Neale, Isaacs, Hennelly, Allen, and Bain. In the absence of the chairman, Mr Dwan, Mr Grasquoine was voted to the chair. The secretary read correspondence which he had addressed to the Colonial Secretary and the Postmaster-General, in pursuance of resolutions adopted at last meeting. He also read the following letters which he had received from the Commissioner. Nelson, August 21st, 186 S. Sir.—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 14th inst. and in reply to inform you that with regard to the Brown's terrace road, lam fully sensible of the force of your remarks as to the superior advantages of a dray road over a bridle track, especially as to the saving that would be effected in the carriage of goods ; the same arguments indeed would equally apply in favor of the construction of a railroad, and it is much to be regretted that the funds at the disposal of the Government do not at present admit of any more expensive form of road than a bridle track, the bridges and culverts being made sufficiently wide for drayt raffle, with a view to the ultimate formation of a dray road from Charleston to Westport via Addison when circumstances will permit it.

With ivspjct to the sum of £SOO, voted by the Provincial Council for cutting tracks at intervals between Mokihinui and the Bazor back, I regret that I am not aware what-por-tion will be expended in the Charleston District, or when or in what manner it is proposed to expend it, but I have no doubt that the Government will be thankful for any suggestions as to the exact locality and direction of any track which the Progress Committee may consider to be desirable, and also for the reasons which led the Committee to believe that any such track is likely to be of any benefit commensurate with its cost.

I have the honor to be Sir, Your obedient Servant. T. A. Sneyd Kynnersley A. B. Baiu Esq. , Commissioner. Secretary to the Charleston Progress Committee. Nel on, August 21st, 1868. Sir. —I beg to inform you that I received with much pleasure your letter of the 14th inst. informing me of the formation (in Charleston) of a Progress Committee for the purpose of suggesting, and forwarding improvements in that town and generally exercising a watchful care over the interests of the district : I, as the representative on the West Coast of the Provincial Government, have frequently experienced the want of some recognised body representing the people of Charleston, with whom I could communicate on various subjects affecting their welfare, and especially in the matter of town improvement.

A Progress Committee is of course open to the objection, that it possesses no legal status or power, but so long

as there is no reason to doubt that it fairely re Dresents the opinions of the public it cannot fail, in the absence of any legally elected Board or Council, to be beneficial as a convenient local medium of communication between the Government and the residents in the District.—

Tie principle which is to be adopted in the expenditure of the sums voted for roads and public works on the West Coast, is that as far as funds will admit, the Government shall bear the whole cost of the construction and repairs of the mam trunk roads along the coast, and the valleys of the Grey and Buller, and also of the roads to a few of the more important and populous outlying districts, such for instance as the Caledonian terrace at the Buller, and Nelson Creek at the Grey ; but that with regard to all town improvements and to branch roads to outlying districts of minor importance, the Government will only grant a sum equal to that subscribed by the residents interested. In applying this principle to Charleston, the District Engineer and overseer of works will be instructed to maintain in substantial repair, the Main Coast road through the town, and the road from the Bay, up Princes Street, and towards the Darkies ten ace, so for as is necessary for the conveyance of goods, and that with regard to the other streets and to all footpaths and other town improvements, to confer either with the Progress Committee, or with any residents in any strestwhere iinprovem ents are desired, and on payment by them of any sum of money for any desirable improvements, to execute the work at a cost not exceeding double the sum subscribed by the residents. I have the honor to be Sir, Your obedient Servant, T. A. Sncyd Kynnersley, Commissioner. A. B. Bain, Esq., Secretary to the Progress Committee, Charleston. P. S. I may add that I should be very glad to receive any suggestions on a subject in which the people of Charleston are interested viz. the Nile Bridge, t. a. s. k. A discussion relative to the Nile Bridge, resulted in the following motion, by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Hennelly, being passed : That a letter be written to the Commissioners, suggesting, that in view of the present difficulty as to the true ownership of the bridge, the Government deposit the purchase money in a bank, to be handed over to the rightful proprietor, as determined by the suit at law now pending, the bridge in the meantime being thrown open to the public free." Educational :—The Chairman moved " That steps be taken to make this district an Educational district, and that a letter be written to the Educational Committee at Nelson, on the subject." Seconded by Mr. Kennedy. An amendment by Mr Bain, seconded by Mr. Neale, to defer any resolution on the subject till next meeting, was negatived and the motion carried. The Committee then adjourned for a week.