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Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1923, Page 2

The legacy which the County Council has inherited from the Government by the handing over of the Kuinara to Ross main road, from all accounts, is going to he an expensive luxury. This was feared at tho outset, as the protest of the Council at the time foreshadowed. The adverse reports from the Council's officers in rospect to the state of the bridges is being emphasised month liv month at tho County meetings. Culverts are being renewed all along the route and tho Council is wisely renewing in permanent material —concrete pipes being used. Krone ideally, therefore, the Council is performing a useful service for the country by replacing tho decayed timber with a permanent material. But the bridges are calling for attention also. Goading and traffic have had to he restricted, and now there are known to he bridges on tho route which are not considered safe for unloaded lorries to cross. The Government has not acted fairly in this matter. To hand over property in such a coiulffion is unfair to the community. It means that during tho period of alleged maintenance, the Government has ne go tied its responsibilities. It has ws ted till tho condition of tho structures .s in extremes, and then liability is coolly passed on to a local body which lias ifts hands full already with load, troubles.

The evident neglect on the part of the Government in this matter will justify the local body in making a renewed claim for financial support to restore tho bridges to a condition of safety. The main highway south is in constant use, and it is not fair that bridges should he allowed to remain in a perilous condition. It is all very well to restrict loading etc., temporarily, while repairs arc being attended to, but the money should be found quickly, so that the ordinary road traffic of the district might proceed in a reasonable way without unduly penalising tho people. The people of Westland have been penalised in the past quite sufficiently. It is time they had ft fairer consideration, and the roads should )>e maintained at least in such a condition that traffic in an ordinary and reasonable way might continue to use the roads without undue restrictions. The restrictions should not continue indefinitely, hut- the Government should come forward in a reasonable way and make good for its past- neglect by helping the local body to meet the heavy burden thrown upon it in the desire to maintain the toads and bridges, at all events in safety for ordinary road traffic. In all the circumstances the Government should he prepared to act generously.

The local body is looking for some help, too, from the motor owners. The motor taxation is to come into loroe in October next. In return, the County Council for its part in securing additional road-making machinery, ami by improving the road surface, motor proprietors '‘-ill find much general re- • iOf. The upkeep of the bridges is another matter, but if there is more money found for road maintenance, other general funds will he tree to help with bridge renewals. The motor taxation v. ill he general throughout tho County. Tt- will deal primarily witii heavy tiaflie which will he called upon to contribute h. definite sum annually to the local revenue. It- lias to he remembered that neither the roads nor bridges were constructed originally for tlu> present phase of Traffic, and

marching with the times it is necessary to 'build up to the requirements of modern progress. So tbo Council is well advised in securing machinery to help to perform its task moro efficiently and more economically, and is equally fair in seeing that those responsible for the accelerated traffic pay their quota, and that the whole charge does not fall entirely on the general body of the ratepayers.

Therm is very general dissatisfaction in this community with regard to some of t-ho special features affecting the new railway time-table. Inadequate and inconvenient as the time-table is, it is being made more inconvenient still bv the late running of trains, which'makes an overlong scheduled journey even more prolonged still. The inadequacy of the connection with the Midland Railway is another matter which indicates that this locality is having very ]x>or consideration at the hands’of the authorities. When wo recall that for something like five decades this district has maintained n consistent and persistent agitation for the completion of the line, it. does appear that insult is being added to injury by the fact that when the long years of agitation have homo fruit., the district continues to he ill-served. At no time did interest in the finishing of the line fall below zero here. Hope was never lost. When interest flaggeo in other quarters, this district uas the first to move in reviving action. A et, now when all the work of laborious years is crowned with success, the district’s requirements in the matter of speedy railway connection are ignored, and not only is there not an accelerated service, but even the "through” service is not given and travellers to this part have to change trains en route.

Tim community, of course, cannot- afford to sit down tamely in relation to the impost put upon the district. The authorities must be told in very plain terms of the injustice being perpetrated and there must he an insistent demand for that fair consideration of the position which the circumstances warrant. It is understood t-ho District Traffic Manager is to visit hero and discuss the jaosition. Wo hope both sides will be frank and place the matter forward clearly. Recently the Borough authorities gave the Railway Department very great consideration in the matter of its requirements. The inducements expressed and implied fully warranted that action. Rut what was promised is not coming to pass. On the contrary the Department has given the community a service of a retrograde character. Had this been contemplated we aro persuaded the local authority would not have so readily and so generously met every wish of the Department as it has done. It seems to be a mattc-r for serious consideration how far the present position is to be tolerated without a protest which will leave no ■mistake as to the feelings of the community in this matter,

Cups and Saucers, 125., 15s 6d 215., a doz., at Star Stores.—Advt.

There will be an important meeting of tho Ladies’ Hockey .Club to-night at 7 o’clock at Mrs Stow’s rooms.—Advt. The annual meeting of the Westland A. and I’. Association takes place tomorrow afternoon at 1.30 p.m. in the County Chambers, Hokitika. Messrs McGruers (Westland) Ltd., distribute an inset setting forth particulars of their -Is lid bargain sale, commencing on Friday.

The ferry steamer connected with the West Coast express at Christchurch this morning. A fairly heavy mail is coming through.

The Railway Department have arranged to run a through train from Greymouth to Christchurch on Monday next leaving Greymouth at 10.15 a.m.

A special meeting of the Ladies’ Committee of the Hospital Ball, will be held at the Board Rooms this (Thursday evening) at 7 o’clock sharp.— Advt.

The usual weekly euchre tournament takes place at the Soldiers’ Hall tonight at 8 o’clock, followed by supper and an assembly dance.

In another column the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) invites the representatives of local bodies and other interested to attend a conference with the Railway Traffic Manager at the Town Hall tomorrow afternoon at 2.!■».

Ou Saturday, which will be Soldiers’ Sale Day. the depot wnl be open in Revolt Street for the sale of gifts for the lt.S.iA. building fund. The occasion calls for the usual liberality in regard to a. movement worthy ot consistent public support.

Big one price pull event -Is lid, sale -Is lid, the supreme Bargain Fair commencing, Friday, Aug. 10th. at McGruer’s. Hundreds et articles worth from 5.1 lid to 40s, now all one price 4s lid each. We offer this great Inlying advantage to make room for heavy summer shipments now on the way. Make this big sale your savings bank. Look out for big price list. McGruor’s the cash drapers, Hokitika aud Greymouth. —Advt.

The team of ladies to play Cronadun Hockey Club at Reef ton on Saturday next will consist of the following players: -Misses O. Stapleton, P. Thorn, T. Wallace, M. Schroder, P. Thompson, ,1. Rosevear, S. Wallace, M. Daly, M. But laud, 1). Wallace, Mrs Hunter. Emergencies—.l. Brown, S. Herring. The car will leave Clements Garage, at 8.30. on Saturday morning.

The Druids’ Ball ill the Soldiers’ Hall last niglii proved a great success. There was a large attendance, the hall being crowded. The floor was in splendid order and was in charge of Messrs Kearns and Howat. The music supplied by the Royal Orchestra was a special feature, and included all the latest jazz music. The Ladies’ Committee provided a splendid supper anil everything passed olf very sinoothil,', the ball proving a lingo success. Boilers cleaned perfectly without injury by "Ktopskale,” which will keep them perfectly free from oil, grease and scale and prevent pitting corrosion and galvanic, action. R. P. M- Manning and Co., 5 Bedford Ron, Christchurch. —Advt.

No reasonable oiror for cash will be refuse dfor the balance of our millinci). to effect a complete clearance. Get in early at Schroder and Go. RcmomU'rod wo are determined not to carry over any hats. —Advt. Schroder and Co. are making a special display ol evening goods that li.hi just come to hand in good time fur the Hospital Ball and other functions. An early inspection will l.e necessary See changes of advt. Schroder and Go. Advt. *”

WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS vastly su perior to all other stimulants.

Keep Flu’ at hav. Go to bed, keep warm, inhale “XAZOL." Powerful and Inindy remedy. Acts like a clianu. (50 doses Is (id.