ROADS AND BRIDGES.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2084, 10 January 1870, Page 2

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

' j To tike Editor of the Evening Star. Sin—fit' your paper this evening there appears from settlers at the West Taieri, headed by Captain G. F. Reid, waited on his Honor the Superintendent, and represented to him the urgent necessity for steps being taken at once to make good" the approaches to the West Taieri Bridge, .which had been destroyed by the late Hoods, and, in consequence, traffic has been entirely suspended.” Now, guid Sir, it is my opinion that this deputation have been wanting in foresight in not asking the Government to “entirely suspend” their wooden-headed engineers, or represent “the urgent necessity for steps being taken at once” to ask the' advice of some outsider who does understand the trade of civil engineering, and put an end to the yearly tinkering which this bridge requires after every little winter’s Hood. lam given to understand, ;upon the - authority of one member in the Provincial Council, that this bridge, originally costing the Province but a few years ago L 20,000, and in last years misapplied repairs upwards of L 2,150 has been wasted, or id,1510 in unauthorised excess of the amount (LI,000) previously voted by the Council upon & plan and estimate of the Chief .Surveyor, and which, he stated, from his great ‘experience, W’ouldhe ■carried out within six weeks for the lesser sum ; but it requiredsix months to execute, and cost more than double his estimate; and now forsooth the approaches are again washed away by the first wee speit of rain heavy enough to raise the level of the river to nearly its usual winter height. If this be not bungling, I do not know what is. The engineer also told the deputation, iu the presence of his Honor, that the punt, which last year cost the Province from Ll5O to LI6O in repairs, is useless to ferry a few light bales of wool over the river whilst the bridge is impassable; and the Superintendent and “ The deputation appeared to be satisfied with the assurances made that the work would be proceeded with as rapidly as possible, and retired.” Mr Editor, if 1 am not taking too great a liberty, I would like to speer a question anent the railroads that are talked about. If the Tokomairiro railroad is estimated by these worthies to cost L 400,000, is it not evident that by such like bungling as the West Taieri Bridge it will cost double, or. say, LBOO,OOCr or L 900.000 ; or the Port Chalmers one L 140,000 foment L 70.000? No wonder the Treasury box is empty under the mismanagement of such emptyheaded chiefs of departments. Sir, I would be, quite safe in betting you a stoup of glenlevit whisky to the best haggis my auld grandmither ever cooked, that the Otago railroads, under the mismanagement of such puir daft folks, will be as great a botch as the railroad in Southland. Wait awee; time will show.—Yours, &c., S. I. "(that is, translated, Seevil Inquirer.)