The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1874.

Dunstan Times, Issue 647, 11 September 1874, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1874.

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His Worship the Mayor and Councillor Hazlett, the deputation appointed to proceed to Dunedin, there to arrange the financial business connected with the building of the intended bridge across the Molyneux at Clyde, have a delicate business to handle, as upon the success of which the future prosperity of this town must to a considerable extent be due. Of their ability to perform the important trust that has been confided to them (here can bo no two opinions, both Mr Naylor and Mr Hazlett cannot he accused of ever neglecting the interests of the citizens, and we may also safely say that in their public as well as private capacities they have always been watchful of the welfare of Clyde. Each hold a very considerable stake in the place, and even as a matter of personal interest they would gladly obey the behests of the citizens to the best of their ability, but we believe them to be far above petty selfishness, feeling assured that both gentlemen are only too anxious to exert themselves to the utmost to assist in the carrying out of this their long considered and favorite scheme. The citizens of Clyde have also their duty to perform in this matter, and to second the efforts of the Town Council they must use every means in their power to impress upon the Provincial Government the necessity of making a road to the bridge, so that with the opening of the railway line to Tuapeka the up-country traffic, ns well as that to Clyde may not be interrupted, hut

that the shortest and best road to the Northern Gold-fields will be ready at the same time. Of the importance of a bridge across the Molyneux at Clyde citizens must be fully aware, and we may safely predict that with railway communication fairly established between Dunedin and Tuapeka and the new road between this and Butcher’s Gully opened to receive the traffic an impetus will be given to the trade of the place such as will mark a new page in its history. For years past a direct lino of road from this town, cutting the Teviot road at the before mentioned place has been badly wanted, while it has been a con stant reproach to the citizens, that they have stood idly by doing nothing towards saving both time and distance to persons travelling down country by what may be termed the natural route. We can assure our readers that the railway line to Tuapeka ia in a very forward condition, the embankments and cuttings being already formed right into the town of else but the completion of the several tunnel borings now in course of progress are wanted to permit the laying of the iron rails, and from what we can learn twelve months from this will find Tuapeka and Dunedin connected by the indissoluble bonds of a railway. One of the principal feeders to this railway will be the traffic to the Dunstan, Cromwell, and the Lakes, and with the increased facilities the line will give for travelling, the traffic both in goods and passengers must be very largely increased. It is wonderful what a railway will do towards opening up the resources of a country, and what a vast amount of work it makes for itself. With the advantages of cheap and cpiick communication people will travel from place to place that scarcely ever thought of moving before, whil» many articles that we now deem as luxuries will, by their cheapness and the ease with which they may be obtained become absolute necessaries. The road from Clyde to Tuapeka, although needing some little repairs, is a very pleasant one to travel over; there is a continual change of scene, and for the whole distance constantly pass through scenes of mining and agricultural industry, and all who have travelled this way to or from Dunedin alike testify to the relief they feel from the monotonous and tedious sameness of the journey by way of Palmerston. We feel sorry for Mr M’Pherson, who, after going to so much expense in the almost rebuilding of his punt, and which is now a really serviceable construction, the Council should have decided to build a bridge; still the interests of the few must give way to those of the many, and while perhaps to a certain extentsacriticingMrM'Phersou, there can be no gainsaying the superiority of a bridge over a punt. The question of compensation to that gentleman will no doubt be taken into consideration, he has a claim upon the Government as the first man that placed a self-acting punt on the Molyneux, and at a time when everything was most costly, and the speculation a doubtful one;he has also a claim upon the Corporation as representing the town, inasmuch that notwithstanding a little squabbling and sparring with the Municipal authorities, ho has neverthcIsssbeena public benefactor. With the bridge, wo may say already began, we must lose no time in co-operating with Tuapeka, to impress upon the Government the necessity of at once proceeding to complete the metalling of the road between the two towns of Lawrence and Clyde.