The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 387, 27 October 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1868.

The following telegram was received last night from the Chairman of the Progress Committee who has evidently reached Nelson safely, and has not allowed the grass to grow under his feet in setting abontt he business on which he was despatched. Nelson, 4.20. p.m., October 2b*. 1868.

I have had a preliminary interview with his Honor the Superintendent this afternoon. He will lay the memorial before a meeting of the Executive, which is called for to-morrow. The call for money is said to be most inopportune, as through a mistake of the Colonial Treasurer a deficiency is discovered in the Provincial revenue of over £35,000. Public works of every kind are stopped. I suggested the advisability of calling the Council together, but the suggestion was unfavorably received.

A. B. Bain. The manner in which the deputation has been received is just what might have been expected, and we greatly fear that the errand will have been in vain. There is no doubt that a great financial error has been committed, in the consequences of which this province must share, but that it is so

hopelessly irreparable as the Superintendent would have us to believe, we cannot possibly understand. At all events even if it were so, at such a crisis, it is unmistakeably necessary that the Provincial Council should meet to take counsel as to the course that should be pursued, unless some reasons, that at present do not offer themselves, can be adduced. The Province virtually temporarily bankrupt, all public works, no matter of what moment, suspended, and this condition of things, apparently certain to last for another six months, surely should be causes sufficient to spur people on to concert all possible measures for their own protection. Of course, as yet we cannot say what the result of our petition will be, but the opening telegram in reference to it is at least ominous and unpromising. The whole matter, it must be confessed, is embarrassing, but the Nelson authorities, judging from the tone of the first interview, seem rather disposed to let things alone than to make any violently energetic endeavor to repair them. In the meantime, Westport will in that case be literally left to the mercy of the river aud the sea, and before the next financial year commences, a large portion of it will be washed bodilyaway. It may be that the Executive to-day may take a more favorable view of the case, and that forebodings of evil, arising out of the above, may happily prove to be unfounded. This evening, however, we expect that a final reply will be received, and no doubt the Committee, on receiving the news, will hold i special meeting for the purpose of considering them.