The Westport Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 495, 24 April 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1869.

I The Puke has cotne and gone. Plaudits innumerable have been issued face to face on Royalty by the Superintendent of Nelson, and the Royal echo has been heard, " beautiful and most interesting Province." His Honor has partaken of his sparkling moselle, with a Prince on his right and a Governor on his left. The programme of tie ball is over; the waltzing and Parisienne were grand, the music exquisite, and ye, West Coastians have nought more now to do, beyond " pay the piper" and " whistle o'er the leave o't." Far be it from us to utter a word of denouncement upon an appropriate reception being given to the first member of England's Royal family, who has visited New Zealand, and proud should wo be to know that this lias been one of the chosen provinces for such an honored visit; but are we expected to remain silent and receive the oft-re-peated reply "no funds," to our pressing requirements from the hands of the Nelson Executive, and hear of such unrestrained lavishment indulged in for the sole gratification of His Honor and His Honor's friends ? "We fear a detailed account of the expenditure from the Provincial revenue coffers this week in Nelson would make an awkward eounterpage in the blue books with the correspondence stopping the necessary works on the West Coast. On Tuesday next the members of the Provincial Council meet, to revise past expenditure, frame new estimates, and otherwise legislate for the Province as best they can. Though any expectations of good works being achieved by the disproportionate number of members from this coast, can scarcely bo expected, from their likely inability to secure a majority on any one question, it is earnestly to be hoped that the just claims of these districts will be advocated, and an expression, if not a conviction, made, that the interests of the Buller public are of more paramount importance than thoso of the caterers to the Panama House ; and that the construction of wharves, roads and bridges would be more palatable to the contributors of the rovenue here, than any importation of hock, rheiuish wine or seltzer water. Tho only Bill announced by the Government as likely to bo brought before the Council this Session is the Representation Amendment Bill, and though, as we have stated, it nearly amounts to an impossibility for any one or the whole of the West Coast members to overthrow any measure of the Government, we shall be much mistaken if the proportions of the representation as therein stated, be not expounded and exposed. As assuredly as that Bill becomes law, so will the scale of disbursements be reckoned on the former principle of—as five is to fourteen—so is the West Coast to the City of Nelson.