THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 575, 25 April 1873, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(FROM our correspondent.) Aurowtown, April 22. The chief excitement of tho day is the proposed erection of abridge across the Kawarau Falls, at Frankton. The people of the Arrow are strenuous in their opposition to tins work, and condemn tho project in toto, as one that will materially affect their interests. The public meeting held on the subject at the Library Hall on the 15th instant, was one of tho most extraordinary gatherings that ever 1 witnessed. People did not know who to condemn, so completely did they deem themselves to be outwitted by their Queenstown neighbors. What appears to be so remarkable to me is that, although so universally acknowleged that the high charges made at the punts at the Morvern and Nevis Ferries wore so detrimental to the interests of the Arrow district, His Honor the Superintendent and Mr. Bastings were permitted to come and go without anything being done to rectify the evil, and the Superintendental visit was permitted to pass without any re'erenco to the vital and important matter of building bridges across tho Kawarau at these ferries, and if the Queenstown people have taken the wind out of our sails we have only our. selves to blame. There was the example of the bridge at the Bannockburn before us, collided with the proposed one at Clyde, yet 1 1 • 1 V iu/ii.ui”(iUtcuai ieauingpuono men to take action to rid the district of one of greatest barriers to its prosperity. They were content as it were to be shut in by these posts and extortionate demands upon traffic. The Queenstown people improved tho occasion of the visit by taking the opportunity to induce his Honor the Superintendent and Secretary for Land and Works, to call for conditional tenders for the erection of a bridge across tho Kawarau Falls at Frankton and which has been done. As the whole matter is one of private enterprise, I cannot sec that the Arrow people have cause for complaint, so far as tho bridge itself is concerned, but, if it is to be-followed up by a large outlay of public money to make roads, so that traffic maybe diverted from tho Arrow in the direction of Queenstown, then there is sufficient reason - for an opposition ; but, although it is as well to guard ourselves At against any movement of this sort. AT 111 1 \ have no present cause to oppose the efforu - of those desirous of procuring abridge across the Kawarau Falls. The Government have sold a deal of land across the Kawarau from Frankton, and now that Southland has become annexed to Otago, it is necessary that some high road should exist to connect the two places, and this can be best accomplished by the bridge in question, so after all it is a legitimate want, nor will it do away with the necessity for a bridge at the Morvern Ferry, as tho distance to Queenstown will not be shortened, were even a road made to connect tho two directly along j the banks of the Kawarau. There can be j no doubt but that a company could bo easily | got up to place bridges at the Morvern and , Nevis Ferries. The speculation is such a i sure one, and have the confidence of the j district, almost everybody would take shares. The pas; ing by| hj; meeting of votes of want of confidence in Messrs. Hallenatein and limes, must only be looked upon as the ebullitions of an excited people. There is nothing in the proceedings of these gentlemen that would justify such a course, nor can the matter of the bridge have any reference at all to their political conduct. Both gentlemen have done their best for their constituents, and deserve good from them. Incendiary fires are unfortunately becoming rife among us. On Thursday morning last, a little before daylight, the stacks of Mr. AVilliam Butler, near Arrowtown, were fired, and which also consumed the thrashing machine of Messrs, Butel,Bros. Happily, the engine was not there,?, or that would have fared a similar fate. An inquest was hold to ascertain if possible, the cause of the fire, which resulted in an open verdict. Ihe AA akatip Agricultural and Pastoral Society show came off at . Frankton on Thursday last, and was very successful, many of the exhibits were very interesting, as showing the productive capabilities: of , the AA r akatip. ’