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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 659, 17 May 1870, Page 2

There are two questions arising out of the matter of the 3ea encroachments, a satisfactory solution of which would be most gratefully received by the residents of Westport ; firstly, whether any, and what, means could be adopted by which the apparently certain destruction of the town might bo averted, and failing that, to what portion of the present surveyed township those whose properties are cither destroyed or threatened, should move to in order to avoid the repetition of a like catastrophe. It is argued, and with much apparent reason, that the only remedy for the present state of affairs is to cut a channel through the North Spit and divert the mouth of the river so that by the deposit of the immense quantities of silt aud gravel discharged by the Buller on the South Beach it might give rise to a new formation, probably as large as that which has been carried away during the past two years. The difficulty, however, in the way of the performance of this comparatively trifling labor, appears to rest in the fact thac the execution of such a project might be the means of endangering a large amount of property contiguous to the river, the value of which, if reimbursed would be much greater than the Government would feel justified in encountering the risk of being called upon to pay, and altogether disproportionate to the amount of benefit likely to be derived from such a course. Another question of sufficient importance to command grave consideration is whether at all and to what extent would navigation of the port be injuriously affected by such a change. As there appears to bo no other easily practicable method of saving the town, and the Government having no desire or intention to move in the matter, the difficulty arises as to the selection of a site for future business operations. The sea has already encroached upon the land to a distance variously estimated at from half-a-mile to a mile, and it is impossible to determine any particular line at which the encroachment will cease. Sites that now appear perfectly eligible and secure may in a few months, from their proximity to the sea render it |

necessary for their occupants again to rernovo their properties, which means simply ruin. If oven it were desired to remove a portion of the town a considerable distance up the river, the matter is altogether impracticable owing to tho absence of formed and metalled streets. Had the Government, during tho four years that have lapsed since the opening of the Nelson South-west Goldfields, and while in the enjoyment of an extraordinary revenue, have even rendered one street passable the entire length of the surveyed township, the present catastrophe would not have been so severely felt. Supineness on the part of the inhabitants has had much to do with the present condition of matters. Had they taken the proper stops to have had Westport declared a municipality, and the signing of a petition by the householders is all that in the first instance is required, there can bo no doubt that such requisition would have had the desired effect. And it is equally certain that had a municipal council been in existence, the revenue derived from land-sales, rates, wharfage due?, <fec, would have proved amply sufficient to treat successfully the matter of sea encroachment and also to drain and form the thoroughfares.