The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1874.

Dunstan Times, Issue 616, 6 February 1874, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1874.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely jusi the pks is mightier than the sword.

Whether the Government will he successful in getting tenders for the 'erection of the proposed bridge across the Molyneux at Alexand-a it is difficult to say As the speculation is a private -one, the successful tenderer only being able toicpay himself by a prescribed rate of to'l to be levied only upon hots-e and stock crossing the bridge cirates a difficulty not eisiiy to begot over. At Clyde, no tenders were received for the const motion of a bridge upon these conditions, and we can scarcely expect but that the same will be the result in this case, still, we must hope for the best—a bridge crossing the Molyneux wherever it may be elected so as to bo available for tho Tnapt-ka

traffic, especially upon the completion of the railway will be of great value to the Dunstan. District. Mr. Bastings when last visiting Alexandra made a very apt remark when he said that however, good and ‘efficient a, punt might he, a i bridge was stills better, but, as this is a question ot expense, and a yery grave, one in the ruse of bridging’4he JVJolyiicux , private enterprise wiil consider a long tiuie before it rushes into such a speculation, and an almost untried one as yet. At the Bannockburn we have n bridge built upon this principle by Messrs, llichavda. Grant and others, but here the proprietors are permitted to charge a tell of sixpence for foot passeng: rs, a very considerable item of income which however must be dispe> sod with in similar cases for •ho future. Dispensing with the toll for foot passengers, a bridge is now in coarse of erection at the Beaumont, while another was attempted to be built across the Kawaran at Kdward's Kerry by Mr McCormack, but which by some unforeseen accident tumbled into the liver and Was washed away Mr. M'Cormack we believe wild renew his attempt in another form, in the’ event of these bridges turning out u financial success, there -will he no more difficulty in building more, bit we rally are of opinion that people will hesitate to do »o unti something is-definitely proved in the way of profits, more especially as there are so many promising speculations to be gone into just at present. The efforts of the Provincial Government to build bridges at other peoples expence cannot be viewed as anything meritorious on th-ir part to benefit the country, but rather as u desire to escape easily out of a diilicnl-y Works of this description should be Undertaken at the expence oi tin I’rovince itself—tie same has been done everywhere else, and why should the gold-fields be made an exception. If the Government cannot afford the construction of all the bridges required, they surely could do something to reduce the charges at the various punts, which in some instances where the trafim is limited is almost prohibitory to travelling. To subsidise the punt proprietors and imrovo the approaches would not necessitate a very large out ay, audit is one to which the public are entitled. Expensive roads i have been made, but wherever a river intervenes, they are like a chain wanting a link, and this is supplied in a temporary manner by a.punt. Inal of these cases an uniti-m charge should be mad**, say, the same rates as piopoaed to be levied at the bridges bung erect' cl by private enterprise, the owners to receive a subsidy so as to enable them to do so. Of what advantage will the railways be to the public if the interior districts are locked up. Up country roads must act as feeders to the vail ways, and it is a very great mist ke to r strict traffic in one place, and give great facilities in the other. If the railways aie to prove a success there must be roads leading to and from them, not partially c used by prohibitory tolls, but available to travellers at the least possible outlay,