Correspondence.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 367, 3 October 1868, Page 4

Correspondence.

{To the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus) Sib, —I beg to call your attention to the following paragraph taken from the " Nelson Examiner " of the 19fch September, the importance of which to Westport, cannot, I think be overrated. The General Government, in their endeavor to equalise the Provincial debts, have offered to place to the credit of the Nelson Government, the sum of £140,000. —" Many have asked, how the province could usefully employ so large a sum of money as he should be entitled to receive. There need be no dffiiculty about that. Some really great work should be selected of a reproductive character, calculated to benefit all parts of the province. The one we should select, would be to open the Mount Eochfort coal-field. This would be something more than a provincial work, for it would be the means of retaining in the colony little short of £IOO,OOO a-year, spent on coal and freights from Newcastle. The coal is the best in the Southern Hemisphere, possibly the best in the world; the supply is unlimited, and after the firat outlay, could be worked very economically. The Buller is a river capable of admitting vessels of sufficient draught of water for a large coal trade, and there is no doubt, besides supplying fuel to New Zealand, the coal from Mount Eochfort would enter into successful competition in Melbourne in Hobart Town, and in South Australia, with that shipped at Newcastle. Provision should be made, in the event of North Westland stpirating from Nelson, that a fair proportion of the money expended should be returned to us, but in the meantime the province ] would derive a fair interest for its outlay." The fact of the road having to traverse the richest alluvial district yet opened in the province, would of itself, be almost sufficient to pay for a line of railway independently of the coal. The recent discovery of the outcropof the Mount Rochfort coal seams, on the seaward side of the range in the Wai-

mangaroa, will tend most naturally to reduce the amount of money required for the line, aa it entirely obviates the necessity for crossing over Mount Rochfort, and will of course greatly reduce the cost of the coal brought to Westport I hope that these remarks may lead to some further notice beiug taken of the perfectly inexhaustible mine of wealth, lying at our doors, as I feel convinced that a bright future is in store for Westport, should her mineral resources be developed. With regard to the question of deviding the province, the liberal manner in which we have been hitherto taeated, will I trust, be a sufficient guarantee against any desire for separation. I am Sir &c, M. J.

Rumoured New Ministerial Arrangements.—The Advertiser, a few days ago, gave the names of the gentlemen who would form the next Ministry in the event of Mr. Fox defeating the present Government, and the office of Treasurer was assigned to our Superintendent, Mr. Curtis. As the Advertiser is the organ of Mr Stafford's Government, it is not likely to be in the confidence of Mr. Fox, so that no value is to be attached to its statement on such a subject. Should the Government bedefeated, Ministers will dissolvearid not resign, so that a change of Gov. eminent will not take place until MrStafford's policy is condemned by a new Parliament. Should Mr. Fox come into power, and the office of Treasurer be offered Mr. Curtis, it is most u i likely the office would be accepted.— Colonist.