WESTPORT PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 434, 21 December 1868, Page 2

WESTPORT PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

At the meeting of the Committee, on Friday, the Chairman, Mr Tyler, was present, and .Messrs Hughes, Humphrey, Alcorn, O'Conor, and Miluo.

njTTEUCOLONIAL STEAMERS. The Hojf. Secretary (Mr Bullen) read a letter which he had received from Captain Benson,»manager of the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Company. The letter was as follows :

" I am in receipt of your letter of the 16th nit., with particulars of Westport traffic, and am much obliged for the full information therein. I will not lose sight of the desirability of making Westport a port of call as soon as practicable* I cannot complete arrangements to do so just at the present time."

The Chairman was afraid that the arrangements of the Company might for some time be affected by the position in which they found themselves with regard to the Panama line of steamers.

Mr O'Conor did not anticipate that the cessation of the Panama line would at all lead to the discontinuance of the steamers on the coast; and he expected that it would be necessary to make arrangements for the procuring of a steamer to tender them at this port.

The CiTAiRMAir thought that was a matter of speculation, and no doubt the Manager would, previous to undertaking the Westport trade, appoint an agent, whose duty it would be to see the steamers tendered when they came.

EECEEATION BESEHVE. Mr O'Conob proposed the motion of which he had given notice—" That the Progress Committee co-operate with the Sports Committee, for the purpose of obtaining from the Government a grant of that piece of ground at present laid out for the Westport Christmas Sports, with the view of making it the future Recreation Ground."

The Chaieman said that, on examining the maps, he found that part of the proposed reserve came within a Maori reserve of fifty acres, the boundary of which extended in a straight line from Mr M'Lean's to the Orawaiti. He explained, by maps, the position of the ground. Mr O'Conob thought that even under these circumstances, of which he had not been aware, a race-course might be obtained outside of the Maori reserve, sufficiently large, if not exactly of the shape that was desirable. The ground was at present marked off in sections by surveyor's pegs, and he thought, for recreative purposes, it should be secured, as there was no other ground so well adapted or so available. Arrangements might be made with the Maoris for the remainder of the race-course.

The Chaibman suggested the appointment of a sub-committee to inquire as to the exact extent of the ground, or the existence of other suitable ground, and to communicate with the Government.

Mr O'Conob amended his motion to the effect that a sub-committee should be appointed to take steps to obtain from the Government a grant of ground as a recreation reserve for Westport; and Messrs Tyler, Humphrey, O'Conor, and Milne, were appointed to act as such sub-committee, in conjunction with the Sports Committee.

THE MUNICIPAL KESEBYE. The Chairman, referring to the maps, pointed out the Municipal Reserve where an • application for an agricultural lease had been made. It had never been proclaimed as a reserve, but it had evidently been the surveyor's intention, when the town was laid out,"that it should be a reserve for municipal purposes. In fact Domett-street and Stafford-street, outside of the reserve, were the boundaries of the town. The part applied for was undoubtedly the best site in the whole reserve. It was even marked on the map " dry stoney ground," while the rest was swamp and heavily timbered. A committee, of which he was one, had been appointed to lodge objections to the application. In consequence of that appointment, he had visited the ground. Previously he had not thought the matter of much importance, but when he saw the site and plans, he found it to be a most important question. It entailed very serious considerations—such considerations as, to his mind, justified the Committee in endeavoring to prevent the granting of any agricultural lease, as applied for—and considerations which probably suggested themselves to all minds. Based upon these considerations, the subcommittee had lodged a series of objections. The first was thatthegroundhadneverbeen set aside as ground on which agricultural leases could be granted. So far as he knew, it had not been so proclaimed, so that the Governor or Superintendent could not, in his opinion, grant an agricultural lease. The Eules and Regulations specified also that no agricultural lease, except under special circumstances, should be granted on any reserve or within the boundaries of a town. Under that rule they had taken two objections—first, that the. ground was portion of the intended Municipal Reserve. Although it had not been proclaimed, inasmuch as it was the intention to proclaim it, they were acting within the rules and regulations to make the objection. The same reason applied also to the circumstance of its being, as shewn on the maps, within the boundaries of the town. The counter objection might be made that the boundaries of the town of Westport had never been proclaimed, but the same reason again applied; although not proclaimed, it was evidently the intention of the Waste Lands Board that it should be so, according to plans he produced. Another objection taken was that the ground would be required for municipal purposes. His reason for inserting that was that, when they considered there was no reserve at all for municipal purposes, and that probably in a few months a Municipality would be estab'ished, it was highly necessary that there should be some reserve for a market place, for Council Chambers, or for recreative or other purposes. At the present moment there was no ground set apart for any such thing. Neither could they find a site for them except upon this intended Municipal Reserve; and, out of the whole reserve the only available piece of ground was this part facing the beach, where the application for a lease had been made. A great part of even this available piece was taken up by the three cottages built by the Government, and the Hospital

building. Hie only remaining portions were three or four chains of frontage, and it was very essential, indeed, that it should be reserved. Where were the Council Chambers to be put unless the Waste Lands Board were to reserve some of the unsold sections of the town ? He thought that object should, of itself, be sufficient, to prevent the granting of this lease. Another reason was that the ground would be required as a thoroughfare to the bush. It seemed to him that there was no other way of getting into the bush by land except by this piece of ground. He might state that he very much' regretted that the application was'made by the person by whom it was made. He had not been aware that it was from the Medical-Officer of the Hospital that the • application came. He was sorry for this for two reasons. First of all he knew that if their objections were successful, or even the very fact of the objections .being taken, would put Dr Thorpe to considerable trouble and expense. Requiring a house, he wished to have one as near the Hospital as possible, and, on the faith of this application being granted, had called for tenders. Another reason was that he had been induced to make this application. He (Mr Tyler) knew what induced him to do so, although he was not at liberty to state it. | But he might say that, from a quarter which had considerable authority in this matter—no person residing in Westport—it was suggested to Dr Thorpe that he should make the application in this form. Some two months ago, he made an application ns Medical Officer of the Hospital for a site for a residence near the institution, suggesting that, if he left, the Government should take the house at valuation. To that he received no reply, but he had a conversation with a person in authority, and was recommended to make such application as had been made ; and it was stated that if it were granted, a covenant should be put in the lease that, if he left of his own accord, the house should be taken at a valuation considerably less than its cost, but, if he were dismissed, it should then be taken at valuation. He was sorry that the applicant should be Dr Thorpe, and he was afraid that the' circumstances, unexplained, would do him some injury. But they had to remember that they were acting there as the Progress Committee. Although they might have personal considerations, and should be sorry to injure any person, public considerations nrast outweigh private ones. Although Dr Thorpe was a personal friend of his own, he thought it their duty, as far as their influence could be exercised, to oppose this application in every way that they could. There was another consideration. It had to be remembered that all the sections which were closely contiguous had been purchased by different persons, and not without great competition. What would be the result ? One person would get an acre and a quarter for half-a-crown a year, with the right of purchase, on certain conditions, within three years. This would be a manifest injustice to the persons who had purchased ground adjacent; and, acting on the part of the public, they should, he thought, oppose it, looking upon it merely as an application from, say, Aor B. The objections which had been drawn up had been placed before Dr Giles by Mr O'Conor and Mr Humphrey, and the Superintendent, acting upon Dr Giles's report, would grant the appl'cation or refuse it. They had thought of waiting upon Mr Greenfield on the subject, but he had proceeded direct to Nelson. It was for the Committee to say whether they should communicate with the Superintendent with regard to this subject, and to request him not to make any reserve in future other than as a municipal reserve. The Superintendent might, immediately on hearing of these objections, reserve the whole as a reserve for the Hospital, The public would then be shut out altogether, and he thought it was most essential that the ground should be reserved for municipal purposes. It had already been suggested that a part should be reserved as an Hospital reserve, and he had no doubt that the Hospital Committee could come to such arrangements by which the Doctor could get a site for his house ; but this must still be maintained as a municipal reserve. Mr O'Conoe reported that Mr Humphrey and he had had an interview with Dr Giles, at which Dr Thorpe was present. Dr Thorpe did not deal with the first three or fvUr objections, as they were legal. With regard to the last he endeavored to impress upon their minds that the site in question was not the only approach to the bush ; but, of course, if Dr Thorpe were to talk to the end of the world, he could not convince him of that. Dr Giles promised to forward the objections, and he said he coincided with Dr Thorpe that the last objection was not tenable. He asked Dr Giles whether he was prepared to receive evidence on the mattter, but Dr Giles thought it was not at all necessary. The business part of the interview being over, he (Mr O'Conor) referred to a feeling which, he believed, Dr Thorpe entertained towards himself, and said he was sorry to hear he attributed to him personal motives. After the lengthy statement which had been made by Mr Tyler, he thought it was now unnecessary for him to say that he was actuated by no personal motives. Dr Giles referred to another subject which was brought under notice by Mr Alcorn at their previous meeting—the publication of applications for tracks or jetties ; and he stated that, if a letter were addressed to him, asking that such applications should be advertised, he would take care that it should be done. Dr. Giles said he coincided with Mr Alcorn with regard to the matter, and would do what he could to see the wishes of the Committee carried out. With regard to the Muni( ipal Reserve, he (Mr O'Conor) thought that, as the matter stood at present, it wa'snot at all satisfactory. They should do their utmost to prevent any further trespass on that reserve, and it occurred to him that a petition from the inhabitants to the Government was very desirable. Mr Alcorn thought they should endeavor to have the ground proclaimed as a Municipal Reserve. It would save any further trouble.

Mr Chairman explained that the ground would first hare to be withdrawn from the Goldfields, and this might be done by the Superintendent after a reference of the matter to the Waste Lands Board.

Mr Hughes proposed " That the Secretary he instructed to write to the Superintendent with regard totheapplication in question for an agricultural lease, and requesting His Honor to *ake such steps as may be necessary for the proclamation of the ground as a Mu-

nicipal Reserve, and for the proclamation of Ihe boundaries of the town of Westport." Mr Alcohn seconded the motion, and it was, agreed to. TOLLS ON TBACKS, &0. Mr Alcoen, amending the motion of which he had given notice; moved " That the Secretary be instructed to write to the Warden, requesting him to cause public notice to be given of all applications under the 13th section of the Goldfields Act." Me O'Conob seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CEMETEBY BESEBVB. Mr Hughes gave notice that at the next meeting he would move " That the Committee take into consideration the advisability of applying to the Waste Lands Board for a piece of land suitable for a burial ground." , The Chaieman, referring to the notice of motion, remarked that he thought there was a reserve for a cemetery and hospital up the river. BEPAEATION FROM NELSON. The Chaieman: I find by the latest Government Gazettes that the . General Assembly has been prorogued to some day in the month of February. It seems to me to be an important consideration whether or not you consider it desirable to petition the Government for the separation of this district from the Government of the Province of Nelson. If you think it is desirable, now is /the most fitting time to do so. It will have to be taken into consideration when the House is in session. Moreover, you are aware that the Stafford Ministry are very much in favor of local governments, and unfavorable to the provincial form of Government. There are only two months to elapse before the meeting of the House, and it will be necessary, in any effort that may be made for the separation of the district from the Province of Nelson, to prepare statistics to show that il, is desirable that it should be separated. This will require time and labor, and I think we cannot do better than, at all events, discuss the matter. If ever we are to think of the matter at all, we could never have a more favorable opportunity. If you. deem it desirable, it might be well to communicate with the Charleston Progress Committee, and with some of the influential residents of Brighton and Cobden. There are a great many matters to be considered. There seems to be a feeling getting abroad in the southern part of the Province against a continuance of connection with Nelson. I remember having read a letter written by some one in Cobden in which fault was found with the action of the Nelson Government, and encouraging the idea of annexation to Westland. I-cannot but think that it would be of immense advantage to the whole of an extensive district if this portion of the Province of Nelson were to be formed into a separate County. I merely throw out the suggestion ; but I myself am strongly opposed to these Provincial Councils, and very much in favor of local self-govern-ment in some form or another; and a more favorable opportunity than the present might not present itself. If a Ministry under Mr Pox get into power, then good-bye to the abolition of Provincial Governments. But, while the present Ministry is in office, we have some hope of being able to obtain separation. Mr Alcoen : It might effect the question of our river bank protection. Mr Humphbey : But the Nelson Government is not doing anything as it is. The Chaieman: And I think we are likely to get separation before there is any chance of them doing anything for the river bank.

Mr O'Conob : In agitating such a question local jealousies must be set aside. I think it is an object the attainment of which would benefit the whole district, and Westport would only share in that benefit. I consider that the mining community, who are the principal supporters of this district, would be very much benefited. They would have an Executive on the spot. Roads and tracks would be made more extensively, and on a more economical scale, instead of useless works being constructed at a very great expense. A great deal of money, instead of of being expended in Nelson, as it is at present, would be expended in the district. The more we paid, the more would be distributed in gjour midst instead of at Nelson, to fatten the aristocrats there, and to create works of imaginary value. The Chaieman : Dry docks, for instance, and a railway from Nelson to Cobden. Mr O'Conor : Exactly ; and other works which will neverexist except in the imagination of the people of Nelson, who imagine that all expenditure should be confined to the town itself. I think we have long enough " played second fiddle" to Nelson. It is now time for us to walk without their encumbrance. The Chaieman : I think we should first ascertain whether such a movement is generally desired and desirable. We should ascertain, not only from the public here, but from those elsewhere, whether they are in favor of the establishment of the county of Westland North.

Mr O'Conob proposed that Mr Tyler, Mr Alcorn, and the Secretary should be appointed as a sub-committee to communicate with the different local bodies at Charleston, Cobden, and Brighton, for the purpose of ascertaining the public feeling on the question. - The Chalbman : It seems then that you are yourselves favorable to the idea. Mr O'Conob : I think, that is sufficiently implied. The motion proposed by Mr O'Conor was agreed to, and, in consequence of the holidays intervening, the Committee adjourned until Friday, the Bth of January.