THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (UPHOLD THE RIGHT.) FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER 1885.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume I, Issue 121, 16 October 1885, Page 2

THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (UPHOLD THE RIGHT.) FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER 1885.

An animated discussion took place at the last Road Board meeting on the advisability of rescinding the By-law passed

some time ago in regard to settlers providing part of the cost of By-roads. Mr Skilton was of opinion that such a law

was unfair to the settlers, and Mr Willi - combe contended that as the greater part 'of the Board’s revenue was derived from

the mining , industry, the opening out of roads and tracks to encourage such industry should receive the fir t attention from the hands of the Board. We quite agree with Mr Willicombe.but would go further than that. On one or two occa-

sions applications have been made to the Board for small subsidies towards improving tracks to the digging-, which have been refused simply for the reason that certain members.did not like to establish a “precedent.” One case in par-

ticular we will mention. The party of

miners who have for years being working the Glengyle lease (Parapara) have done a lot of work towards improving the track to their claim but have been refused any compensation as a subsidy to their own labor, for the above reason. This we consider to be mo -;t decidedly an indication of pusillanimity on the part of the Board which ought not tq he shown by any public body. If the’Beard are of opinion that any application either from a party of miners or settlers is justifiable, then by all means grant such application; but if on the other hand they think that any such application is not of sufficient public importance to he entertained, surely they ought to have enough strength of mind to refuse such application without being afraid of the possible consequence of being considered partial. By taking a linn stand in matters of this kin 1 aval using their own di cretion without favor or prejudice, they will be much mote respected by the majority of the ratcpayi rs, than by excusing their want of confidence in themselves under the plea of “not establishing precedents.”

Tenders are invited in another column for the construction of the most important public work which has ever been undertaken in this district. We refer to the building of a cart bridge across the Aorere river. This is the first step in the direction of obtaining through communication with the West Coa-t, and when tnat is once established, Collingwood instead of being as at present a terminus on the map of New Zealand, will become an

important centre of one of the main lines of road in tue Middle Island. A ; there is now a probability (wo arc afraid to say a certainty ) of the. Aorere-ivnramea track being made, we hope it will: not be long

before this statement is verified. Present-

appearances most certainly indicate a

slightly progressive move-n mt so far as this neglected di-trict is concerned, and it is quite possible that if a little more vigoiu- and energy could only be infused into the worthy members of the Council

we maj' extricate ourselves from the tor pid condition of the la t twenty years.