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Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 52, 29 October 1891, Page 2

In another column we publish a leading article from the Manawatu Daily Times of Tuesday last, dealing with the Lower Gorge bridge, and as the article in question is not apparently founded on accurate information as to the true position of the ratepayers in this connection, we will now endeavour ,to supply the deficiency and remove any wrong iniprsss^ona which might be formed. We will place the following facts of the caso in order thus : — 1. That the rent for the ferry reserve, which belongs to the bridge, pays the ,an>ount required for the special rate. %. -That pkn special rate was only struck for ten years, iiyp of which have expired. 3. That it will pay tli,e Manchestei' Road Board better to keep the ovc bridge and toll fcluiiz to allow tlic Pahiatua County to have .central. 4. That Mr Cotter's energy and public spirit are accounted for by the fact that the gate which he /low lias to pay for would be taken away if the Pahiatua County took the tolls over and his intp^csts,, and those of the great body of tins -Manchester

ratepayers, are therefore nob the same. With reference to " circumstances which may arise when the rate would have to be collected " we should say they were very remote inasmuch that the affairs of the Manchester Road Board are managed with such prudence and business capacity that the services of a Receiver are never likely to be required as was the case with the unfortunate Manawatu Road Board. We may say with the utmost certainty that within the next ensuing five years which complete the currency of the special rate, no such calamity need be anticipated notwithstanding the gloomy prognostications of our contemporary. The ratepayers of No. 6 ward, are therefore quite secure on these grounds : 1. That the Manchester Board is perfectly solvent and likely to remain so, as it has a reserve force of general rating power of three farthings in the £„ equal to .£1,400 a year more available revenue in case of need. 2. That the ferry reserve rent specially belonging to the bridge pays, the special rate, and will pay it after the tolls are dispensed with. 3. That the tolls are not and never have been used to pay the interest on the loan (which only amounts to some .£46 a year), but have been spent exclusively on works in No. - 6 ward.