The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1874.

Dunstan Times, Volume 642, Issue 642, 7 August 1874, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1874.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword.

Wmt the exception of two new Councillors, the Municipal elections have left us just where we were be* fore. Still, that is no reason why a little more life should not be infused into our Civic body. We have not an entirely fresh article to deal with ; but that is no reason why the remnant of the old one should not admit of a little furbishing up. The last year of Mr Naylor’s Mayoralty was not marked by any achievement calculated to materially advance the interests of the town and district, nor were any particularly novel ideas originated that can be accepted as a guide for the the future. Without classing ourselves among those who are always bemoaning the badness of the times, we think, however, that a very great

deal might be accomplished towards making things better were the Town Council only to make good use of their energies and the means at their disposal. It may be very creditable on the part of that body to say (hat they have between 600/. and 700/ to their credit in the Bank, and then ask the citizens to be grateful that such wise and saving beings rule over them; and further, to make themselves content that, while this satisfactory balance remains inj hand ami is gradually being added to, no harm whatever can possibly overtake them. This saving propensity of the Council is not the result of wisdom ; it only shows their Incapacity to expend profitably the citizens’ money. People do not pay taxes to be laid up mouldering in a Bank. Were such their object, they would save monej foi themselves, without the aid of a Mayor and Council. Taxes are levied for a specified object, such as local improvements and looking after the interests of the town and district. Unless this is done, the money is misappropriated. The veriest stranger visiting Clyde cannot but be struck at the anonioly of so much money in the Bank while streets and roads

want making or repairing. In some things the town may be a-head of others ; but in the matter o: road making it is far behind-hand, and it appears to us almost past belief that, notwithstanding this is one of the oldest up-country municipalities, no main thoroughfare is completed to the boundary line of the municipality. The late accident to the Tuapeka coach must be entirely attributed to this want of proper roads, and who ca say upon what dark night or early morn happen to -t the Dunstan coach from a similar cause. 41 Tluu travellers leaving town in the direction of Alexandra or Dunedin should be compelled to thread their way through a labyrinth of roads like the Hues on a map is something preposterous, let alone that any departure from this maze of tracks may lead to a general smashing Up of vehicles, or broken human bones over the huge rocky boulders which thickly strew the ground. The entrance to the town in the direction of Cromwell is well defined; but, for'that we have not to thank the Council, and any satisfaction we may feci regarding this roadway is, that it could not have been taken anywhere else. Still, tins road is much in need of repairs, which a very moderate outlay would accomplish. Clyde should be a model town in the matter of roads. The natural facilities of the ground permit of making and formation at a ridiculously smal 1 cost, when compared to elsewhere, and yet there are hundreds of pounds of the citizens’ money laying idle in the Bank, while loads and streets are urgently wanted, The stone curbing and channelling of Sunderland street might, With considerable advantage, bo extended a short distance into South Ward. The corners of Coquette and Cheviot stre ts a re something disgraceful, and now that expensive buildings have been erected in this direction, it is due to the ratepayers of that Ward that some portion of the Municipal revenue should be expended upon improvements there. The roadway and approaches to the Bunt are a long way from what they should be, and since Mr Donald MT’herson has gone to so much expense in improving his Punt, which is now capable of admitting any traffic, being the largest and most complete floating bridge in the Province, the Council should endeavour to make it as available as possible. It is of no use arguing that nothing should be done in this matter because we are about to build a bridge, that must necessarily be a work of time, even where we to set about it at once. A good roadway and approaches to the Punt are badly wanted. Mr M'Pherson, although late in the day, has done his work admirably, and it be- ■ Loves the Council to second his efforts in facilitating the traffic of the town and district. 1

In dealing with the matter of the bridge itself, the necessity tor the early commencement of that structure cannot be too strongly impressed upon the public mind. With the opening of the Tuapeka line of railway the traffic on the western bank of the Molyneux will be largely increased, and we should neglect no means of anticipating that event, but at once set ourselves to the task of providing the best means for cross-

ing the Molyneux, as well as the opening up of a direct line of road be-

tween the proposed bridge site and main line of route to the Teviot. Mr John M'Cormick, the builder of the j Bannockburn and Nevis Ferry bridges, has shown us how to build them cheap and substantial. The cost for a suspension bridge over the A’olyneux, at Clyde, would probably not exceed five thousand pounds, and whether built by the Council, or by private enterprise, cannot fail but prove a paying speculation. We must of course credit the Council with the preliminaries already instituted by them. Still, on behalf of the citizens, we should be remiss in our duty did we not use our endeavors to advance the object a stage further. The water supply remains still a difficulty; and no sooner are we out of one. difficulty than another crops up. The necessity for securing to the town an ample supply of the aquae us element has been made most unmistakably apparent by the late visitation.which eas afflicted our Cromwell friends-, and we must attribute, in a great measure, our immunity from fever to the healthful influences of the water running down our streets. But we want a supply that can at all times be depended upon, and at such an elevation as to be serviceable in case of fire, as well as laid on to the houses of citizens, who should obtain all they may require by the mere turning on of a tap, instead of dipping it out of a gutter. In the matter of coals, tilings are in a most unsatisfactory condition, and some Ilf. or 12f. per week is leaving the town as purchase-money for fuel which should ho obtained within it. We possess a seam of lignite unequalled for its burning qualities to any other similar deposit in the Province ; in fact, in point of combustion and heat-giving, it may be said to represent just one inter mediate stage between .Newcastle coal and lignite. The seam is some thirty feet thick, and, to all appearance, is unlimited in extent- Whether the irregulnrjway in which the public in supplied with thisarticle arises from the mismanagement or obstinacy of the lessee, Mr Holt, or the alleged difficulties thrown in his way by the Council we offer no opinion, but we deem that body wanting in their duty to the ratepayers unless they adopt some decisive measures to have this vexed question, or rather muddle settled As the seam runs underneath the town, the town holds an unmistakable interest in it, and, instead of being compelled to import our coals, we should he exporters. The loss in both cases is something serious, and without any desire, to prejudice the interests of Mr Holt, or needlessly heap blame upon the Council, we hold no other opinion but that the sooner the disabilities under which the Clyde coal workings labor are removed the better it will be for all parties The costs of the Bridge and Water Supply need not affect the general revenue ot the Corporation, as in both cases the money can be hor 'owed at a very moderate rate of interest, and we may almost add that the amount necessary for the bridge has been already promised by the Bank. Both of these works will be reproductive ; and we believe that the Water Supply, equally with the Bridge, will yield a considerable profit. .Ratepayers, therefore, need not fear but that the ordinary town im proveinents will in any shape be interrupted The payment ol interest, cost of repairs, as well as n sinkingfund for the repayment of the loans, will be provided by the works themselves.