PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 385, 24 October 1868, Page 4

PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

The usual weekly meeting of the Progress Committee was held last evening in the Court House, when there were present, Messrs Bain, (chairman), Milne, O'Conor, Humphrey, Field, Powell, Alcorn, Leslie, and Hughes. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr O'Conor said that as a member of the Finance Committee, he was prepared to give an ad interim report. They had partly canvassed the town, and had every where been well received. They intended to classify the subscribers into two divisions, viz., the ss, and the 10s contributors, but they found that almost invariably the people they had called on, had chosen the higher class of their own accord. They had met with scarcely any denials, and their success was quite sufficient to warrant them in guaranteeing the expenses of the deputation to Nelson, in connection with the Wharf Memorial. In addition to +his they hoped to have a balance to pay any further necessary expenses that they might incur. The report was received and business proceeded with.

The Chairman remarked that at the last meeting they were promised some returns from the Statistical Committee, but he did not know whether they were prepared or not. Mr Humphrey, as one of the Committee, said that they had called on Dr Giles, Messrs Harris, Muaday, and other gentlemen connected with the Government, and they had been most courteously received, and furnished with all the returns they desired. He submitted a statement of the revenue received in Westport, during the six months ending September last as follows:

Mr O'Conor asked if there was auy record of the expenditure

Mr Humphrey said they had not received any.

The Chairman remarked that the Appropriation Act would show that. Mr Alcorn asked, if the proportionate income to the Province, wonld be shown out of the sums stated.

Mr O'Conor said it would be about £13,500. Mr Alcorn—Then the gross amount would be about £18,000.?

The Chairman, enquii'ed whether the Committee were to accept that as an interim report.

Mr Humphrey said that was what they intended. Mr O'Conor moved, that the report be left in the hands of the Secretary, for reference, and the use of the Committee.

Mr Powell seconded the resolution, which was carried. The Chairman said that a sub-com-mittee had been nominated, to frame rules for the conduct of the Committee, and asked if they were prepared to submit any. Mr Hughes, as one of the sub-com-mittee, handed in a set of rules, which were first read and then discussed seriatim.

Rules to the number of ten, were then adopted,

The Chairman reminded the meetting of a subject -which was brought up at the last sitting, but which was postponed owing to the pressure of other business ; he alluded to a motion by Mr Alcorn, concerning the track to G-iles' Terrace.

An opinion was generally expressed that the Committee should endeavour to get the propoaed track made. It was stated the present so-called track ha I become almost impassable owing to the increasing traffic to the flourishing gold diggings in the direction of G-iles' Terrace Mr Milne said that out of the £2OOO voted for tracks to Caledonian and G-iies', only £938 had been expended in forming the Caledonian track, and that the cost of the extension to G-iles' would not be more than £4OO.

Mr Alcorn begged to move—" That the deputation to the Superintendent represent to his Honor the almost impassible slate of the track to Giles' Terrace, owing to the increased traffic, and call attention to the fact that £4oq of the unexpenked vote for tracks would be sufficient to complete the said track."

This was seconded by Mr Humphrey, and carried.

Mr Field having mentioned that some advautages would accrue were Westport made a Post-office District :

It was resolved on the motion of Mr O'Conor, seconded by Mr Powell; — " That a committee consisting of Messrs Hughes, Alcorn, and Field, be appointed to confer with Mr Winstanley relative to obtaining increased postal facilities. Mr Hughes introduced the subject of the dog nuisance, and proposed that when the chairman was in Nelson he should suggest to the Superintendent the advisability of extending the operation of the " Dog Act" to Westport. After some discussion this proposal was adopted ; an amendment by Mr Alcorn, that the suggestion be conveyed in the form of a letter, being negatived. The Committee then adjourned.

NELSON SOUTH WEST GOLDFIELDS. RETUEN OF GrOLDFIELDS REVENUE FOB HALFYeae, ending Septembee 30, 1868. Minors' Rights, £2784 0 0 Publicans' Licenses, ... 4501 0 0 Business do., ... 2511 0 0 Miscellaneous, 2052 3 2 11,848 3 2 Total, £11,848 3 2 Westpoet Collections foe same period. Miners' Rights, £ 780 0 0 Publicans' Licenses, ... 1605 10 0 Business do., ... 663 0 0 Miscellaneous, 598 4 0 3646 14 0 Total, .£3646 14 0 SUP PLEMENTAR Y. Revenue of Dtsteict Couet of Westland North, for same period. Fees of Court, £189 12 0 * £189 12 0 Revenue of R.M. Court, Westport. Fees and Fines, £514 10 0 £514 10 0 Total, £704 2 0 The above may bo summarised thus : — Revenue Collected in Westpoet — Six Months ending 30th Sept., 1868. Customs Duties,... £13,015 13 8 Fees under the Arms Act. 48 8 0 Do. Merchant Shipping Act, 0 6 0 Light Dues, 68 11 11 (*old Duty, 8896 9 11 Miners' Rights, ... 780 0 0 Publicans' Licenses, 1605 10 0 Business do., 663 0 0 Miscellaneous, ... 598 4 0 District Court, ... 189 12 0 R.M. do. Fees and Fines, 514 10 0 £26,380 5 6