THE NASEBY SLUDGE CHANNEL.

Evening Star, Issue 3833, 7 June 1875, Page 2

THE NASEBY SLUDGE CHANNEL.

A correspondent of the ‘ Tuapeka Times,* who is evidently au courant with all the circumstances of the above works, expresses his ability to substantiate all that appeared in the * Mount Ida Chronicle,* in reference to “ cruelty to Immigrants,” and writes that “ after Mr Robinson, R.M., reported on the matter, too nearly allied to the remarks of the ‘ Chronicle * to suit his Honor, the Inspector of Works seeme to have been requested to report, and evidently com* plied with the request, differing (so the reply of the Superintendent to the General Government would seem to indicate) from the B.M.’s report. I don’t say that the Inspector was biassed in his report, but he was more likely to be so than the R.M., the immigrants being indirectly con* nected with the work, which he supervised; and therefore the R.M.’s report should hate had most weight. But, instead of this, Mr Robinson’s report is quietly ignored, no mention being made of it in his Honor’s reply to the General Government, and the statements of the Inspector of Works are wholly gone by in reply. Neither of these reports seem to have been forwarded with his Honor’s reply ; and when copies of correspondence were asked for in the Provincial Council, the officer’s report, which was taken no notice of, is laid on the table; and the report of the officer on whose statements his Honor’s reply was founded is withheld. That the immigrants were inhumanly treated is well known here, and the Provincial Government is blamed for not making such provisions as to render ‘the control of the elements,’ (as his Honor puts it) unnecessaty is quite as apparent *’ “Progress,” who lately visited the works, informs the ‘Chronicle’that he found them to be in a much more forward state than is generally believed outside Naseby, and by many in Naseby. The channel is cut to withinabout two miles of Naseby, which is as far as the present contract extends. The side and bottom stones are on the ground to complete the race as far as cut. It will take about four months to put in the stones and take out the remaining portion of the bottom. But the great amount of stuff piled up on the banks of the race, which is sure to crush in the sides as the wet weather sets in, and the „iu to rjmry fortunate if they stand up till it is out of their hands. In urging that a sum should be voted to complete the remaining two miles, the correspondS H ys: — would be a lasting disgrace to the Government if they left the work uncompleted. If that is their intention, the sooner they make it known the better, and allow pnvate enterprise to complete it. The Provincial Government would act wisely If they voted a sufficient sum to complete the Channel which can be done at a ' very moderate cost, if they allow the contractors to cut the race with water, and not one half tne time would be required. What the Government ought to do is to hurry on the present contract, so that the channel would be available to complete the remaining portion with as little delay as possible.”