THE PAROA BRIDGE.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 809, 1 March 1871, Page 2

THE PAROA BRIDGE.

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sir, — I note " Constituent's " remarks upon the Paroa Bridge, and its " honorable advocate" in the Counby Council. Will you allow me a little space to re-air the grievance under which we Paroaites labor, in my own roundabout way. A special rate was levied by the inhabitants on themselves, and the Road Board subsidised the amount, making a total of about Ll7O, for the purpose of erecting protective works to resist the encroachments of the New River. The works answered the purpose admirably for a time ; but, falling out of repair, the river again encroached upon the township, and half road was left, which w'^ft^^dft^^artiat our houses would soon buict* Continuing its destructive course along the line of tramway, and through the " Paroa Gardens," it at last made its way out to sea. One night, in a playful mood, it again broke out about three miles south of Paroa. The township was saved ; the Paroaites jubilant; and the bridge became, from a commercial point of view, a splendid ruin. About two months back, the river (always playful) half drowned a County Engineer while attemping to ford it at high water. The result was an immediate expenditure of L7O in the formation of the road mentioned by "Constituent." Now we are informed, through your report of the County Council proceedings, that our '* honorable member for Paroa " is employing his legislative talents in attempting to restore the structure to its pristine commercial beauty. Note the cost, as under : — Public moneys wasted in the construction of 30 chains of road about to be rendered useless £70 0 0 By the payment to Mr Maurice O'Connor of a sum amounting to* 60 0 0 For turning the river into its former destructive channel, resulting in the inevitable loss of three licensed publichoußes, and four or five pri« vate ones, which could not; be replaced at a less sum than ... 700 0 0 Total £830 0 0 By-the-bye, we may add the trifling value of five chains metal road, quarter of a mile of tramway, the Paroa gardens, and expenses attending an action at law for damages to the aforesaid ground held under a Crown grant, and over Ll7O worth of protective works would also be staring at us from the opposite side of the river. Does it; not strike you, Mr Editor, that this "is paying dear for another man's whistle. The honorable member for Paroa has indeed earned + he confidence of his constituents. His watchful care over this question of " The Bridge," also in all matters connected with the mining interest, his complete abnegation of self, and the fearless course he pursued -in carrying out his pledge respecting the question of honorarium, fully compensates for the want of that eloquence which so distinguishes some of his colleagues in the Council Chamber. — 1 am, &c, Constituent No. 2. Greymouth, Feb. 27, 1871.