MANUHERIKIA BRIDGE AT ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 807, 5 October 1877, Page 3

MANUHERIKIA BRIDGE AT ALEXANDRA.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUNSTAN TIMES.) Sir, —ln .your last'issue of the Dunstan Times I noticed, in the report of the County Council’s proceedings, that the members of that body are not very well posted up in tho requirements of thisportiou of theManuherikia Riding ; I especially have to allude to the'necessity of a traffic bridge over tho Manuherikia River, at Alexandra. By not bar ing a traffic bridge there is simply half a 'million of unknown country locked up, one half of which is within Vincent County, by not having'proper access to it. The only member of the County Council showing to advantage at the last meeting was the ‘member for'the Manuherikia Riding. He ‘simply acknowledged by his action that the Council has been treated most liberally by tho people of this portion of tho County by subscribing L 250 towards the expense of electing a traffic bridge over the Manuherikia River, at Alexandra, as tho Council could not reasonably expect such liberality. There is no doubt but that the member has seen the fallacy of expending money on a foot bridge where in reality a traffic bridge is required. The outlay on Blacks’ foot bridge has paid for our experience. As the Vincent County Council bears the reputation of spending money judiciously and advantageously, let them try to preserve that well-deserved character. One member sees difficulties in tho way of altering specifications, site of bridge, etc. Has this member inspected tho present site chosen for a bridge, by onr infallible Vincent County Engineer? I don’t think so, otherwise he would, I believe, have objected to it, for the rock chosen to build a bridge pier on looks very suspicious ; looks, in fact, to be a loose rock—really a fine prospect for the contractor—therefore, may not the contractor he only too glad to throw his contract to the winds without being compelled to pay any damages to the Council, instead of demanding damages. Another member of the Council states that a traffic bridge entails more expensive approaches and roads. To be sure it docs Surely no One can open up a quarter of a million of acres of country without roads, and derive the full amount of revenue from it, that it is capable of, although tho full compliment of roads are not required as yet, therefore they can bo constructed in a number of years to come. 11 is the duty of the Council to create progress and prosperity for the County by the judicious outlay Of the public money intrusted to tlieto. Another consideration is, that we aT6 entitled, as a right, to a fair portion of the County revenue being expended in the district, for the benefit of the whole County, without making any subscriptiontowards it as is done in this instance. Bat the people here knowing that there exists a necessity for a traffic bridge, have liberally subscribed towards it.—Yonrs, &c.\ Wm. H. llastedt. Alexandra, Oct. 2nd, 1877.