THE PORT AHURIRI BRIDGE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3254, 6 December 1881, Page 2

THE PORT AHURIRI BRIDGE.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegkaph.] Sir, —During recent election addresses and public speeches I have watched with curiosity the marvellous misrepresentations that have been made of Mr Buchanan's words and actions in reference to the Kidnapper harbor scheme, and the proposed Bluff breakwater, but have been content to leave these things to others, or to Mr Buchanan himself to put right. I have known Mr Buchanan during the whole of his public life; I know he has bro-ul shoulders and clean hands; he can well bear the burden of his own defence, and repel the slanders uttered against him. Seeing that there is to be a public meeting of the electors at the Spit on Wednesday evening, I wish to draw the attention of the residents at the port to the fact that to Mr Buchanan, and to Mr Buchanan alone are they indebted for the Port Ahuriri bridge. There have beeu many claimants to the honor of having been instrumental in securing this boon, Dut —and what I cay I am prepared to prove — it was to Mr Buchanan's influence with the Government—an influence persistently exerted in this direction—that they owe the existence of the bridge. This may not be generally known to those whose interests lie at Port Ahuriri. Many of Mr Buchanan's enemies know it, but they are not likely to bring it out at a public meeting held in favor of his candidature. I know the determined efforts he mndfe to obtain that bridge, and you know tbe success they met with. If the people of Napier desire a breakwater at the Bluff, and if Mr Buchanan promises that bis efforts as their representative shall be given in that direction they may rely upon it that those efforts will be made most unsparingly and persistently. What influence the other candidates for tbe Napier constituency would have with auy government under the sun I leave the electors to estimate.—l am &c,

An Old Petane Resident, December 6tb, 1881.