The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1889. The Onepuhi Bridge

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 90, 5 February 1889, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1889. The Onepuhi Bridge

It is a matter of surprise to us that the ratepayers of the Manchester Road District are so apathetic in the matter of the expenditure on the Ouepuhi Bridge across the Eangitikei River. Month after month the Board has had to pay large sums, either for maintenance or for repairs, and now a fresh departure has been taken, and tenders are to be invited for an eighty feet span, to be added to the existing structure. Those interested on the Rangitikei side of the river have made arrangements to pay for their share by a loan, to be obtained from the Government under the Loans to Local Bedies Act; but the ratepayers on this side of the river have done nothing, and are not likely to do anything, ia that direction. The Manchester Road Board has not one shilling in hand which can legitimately be devoted to this purpose, because, as was shown by Mr Maoarthur at the last meeting of the Board, the limit wfth the Bank has already been reached. No doubt the revenue from the rates will be coming in, but we question if the whole of that is not already hypothecated. We think in justice to the ratepayers someone of the members of the Board should explain the position, because it is absurd to expect that the Manchester Road District will submit to be bled for all iime for the maintenance of a work which is of not the slightest use to the great majority of them.