CROMWELL AND NEVIS ROAD.

Dunstan Times, Issue 324, 10 July 1868, Page 3

CROMWELL AND NEVIS ROAD.

(To The Editor Of The Dhkstan- Times) Sir,— I see by year issue of 19th inst., that the sum of £650 has been placed on the estimates for the Cromwell and Nevis road, and it is stated that the money will ho availahle as soon as the Appropriation Bill is passed. Now, Sir, if this amount of public money is to be spent on a public road, although in this instance it will go but a short way towards completing this road, it is but fair to expect that it will bo expended on those portions of the road which most require it. In a former issue of yours under the heading “ Cromwell Town Council ” appeared a statement to the effect that the Government Engineer had reported to the Council that he could complete the road from Cromwell to the Kawarau Station for £I,OOO. If these gentlemen proposed to spend £I,OOO of public money on six miles of road, said six miles being already ccpial to the best in the province, I wonder how far they will bo inclined to go with £650 if they get the management of it. It is to be hoped the

Government Engineer, before expending tlies money will see the necessity of making a survey of the road from Cromwell to Nevis. Ho will then be enabled to see where the road most urgently requires repairing, and insteadjof spending the money in the neighbourhood of Cromwell, where the road . at least as far as the Kawarau Station, does not require a single shilling of outlay as ' compared with the remaining portion, at least as far as the money will go. He will be doing his duty better than by listening to the selfish suggestions of a few parties who merely wish to have the money laid out so that it may come into their own pockets as speedily as possible. Money vote'l by Government for a public purpose should, in my opinion, be expended in the manner most conducive to the public welfare and not be squandered for the benefit of one or two individuals. If the management of this money is to be entrusted to the Town Council of Cromwell 1 hope they will bear in mind that it is not voted by Government for the purpose of beautifying the approach to that Municipality, but for the repairs of a public road, and the inhabitants of this poriion of the district will endeavour to see that it is applied to the purpose for which it was intended. I am Sir yours &c. &c. OBSERVER. Nevi3, June 23, ISGS.