NASEBY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 691, 16 July 1875, Page 3

NASEBY.

(F.IOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 12th

The Secretary for Works and the Provinciial Engineer visited us on Friday last, and remained till to-day, when they proceeded by Cobb’s coach enroute for Dnuedin. The Sludge Channel, Head Race, reservoir, and Taicri Bridge wore inspected by them, and we are sanguine of improvement in the management of these works. J.’r Green possesses the reputation of a conscientious, honest, and straight-forward man, and I hope we of Naseby shall be able to vouch to his good qualities. Ho seemed to be under the impression that the works had not received the best treatment since their inauguration, and now that he has visited in person the scene of so many complaints, and thus made himself acquainted with their nature, it is but reasonable to suppose that we may expect the remedying of the gross neglect which has hitherto been the curse of the works. Deputations from several bodies interviewed the Secretary on Saturday evening, and represented to him what was most needful. He returned very favorable answers to their statements, promising to do all in his power to perform what they requested of him. The Province, and especially this district, is ranch indebted to Mr Grenn for his conscientious determination to visit the public works now in course of construction, previous to tbe meeting of the General Assembly, so that any matter requiring their attention might he laid before them in a proper light. It is currently stated that his colleagues wished him to postpone his visit, his presence being required in Dunedin, but ho would not he thwarted in his intentions, and accordingly went on his tour of inspection. Had his

visit been deferred it would have boon, mo t probably, till after tho close of the ensuing session of the General Assembly ; for, during Us sitting, at which Mr Mucandrew and Mr Held will moat likely bo present, his presence in Dunedin will bo indispensable. Therb being nothing definite to present to the General Assembly, tho necessary increase in the vote for tbeso works would not have been passed till tho session of next year. So wo ought to be duly grateful to him for his conscientiousness. Tho previous Secretary for Works (Mr Reid) never visited the works, either at an opportune or inopportune time, and considering that Mr Reid knows nothing whatsoever of the nature of mining operations mid works it is hardly to he wondered at that he should fail in the discharge of his duty. Mr •iimpson’s letter in the Guardian, of a late ssue, finds many sympathisers. A wordy war has been going on in the local paper these last four weeks, about the Sludge Channel. Correspondents have charged the contractor with dilatoriness, and ho, naturally, has defended himself. However Mr Creighton may defend himself, ho cannot convince anyone that knows at all ahnut tho matter that tho contract has been carried out in a fair manner. Whatever he may say, lie cannot oveicome the stupendous fact that be contracted to do the work in ten months, and that the time occupied up to the present date has been double that stipulated for its completion ; and now, even with so great an extention of time, the work is not finished. No doubt be bad t'illivulty in not getting ids money regularly at first, and the recent flood may have retarded him somewhat, but there can be no legitimate excuse for so long a delay. I t is rather amusing to note tlie defences of the contractors. The contiaotor for the Head Race writing to the Government, in a part of the letter says “ Then there is the Sludge Channel will take eigb.t months yet to finish so the race —although finished—would he of little use till then.” The Contractor for the Sludge Channel, writing to the editor of the Chronicle, in refutation of some remarks made by a correspondent signing himself “ F.iglt,” says;—“ Moreover, the Government will not permit the Channel to be used until the Head Race is fi fished and in proper working order : and I don’t think it will give us much trouble to complete the Channel by .that time. It is the furthering the works on the Head Race that Mr “ Fugit” sh-.uld write about.” Although we are singu'arly exempt from frost, yet the weather is cold and stormy. Cobb and Co’s coach, through the usual state of the roads in winter, is very often behind its time. Mining operations are pretty generally engaged in.