The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, May 17, 1865.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 214, 17 May 1865, Page 2

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, May 17, 1865.

It is always so much easier to praise than blame, that we trust we shall not find it our duty to grumble and complain of the present Dick-Moss Ministry as following in the footsteps and principles of the old regime. So far they have acted both ably and judiciously, and given something like a fixed tone to the Council. We do not agree with their proceedings altogether, although they have evinced a desire to cop suit—what should have been done long ago—the real interests of the Province as expressed in the phrase of " the development of the internal resources of the Province." The key of such a policy must necessarily be the formation of roads, and free open communication of one district with another, and of these again with the capital. The Government have signified their intention to place a sum of £6,500 upon the supplementary estimates for making a road to Queenstown. This promise has been frequently given, and is now about to be realised with others in a very handsome manner, for we are to have the boon given us almost immediately! A very strong feeling ruled this district for some time in regard to the route the Main Trunk Line of Road connecting us with Dunedin should take. Surveyor's reported, deputations waited on his Honor the Superintendent, Ministers visited us and inspected the affair, memorials were forwarded, and the result was that all parties agreed in giving their decision that the road should reach Queenstown via Frankton, and the Government so accepted matters. We have before us definite promises in letters to this effect:—All classes accepted the route laid down upon the line pointed out by Mr Surveyor Wright's recommendations. There was nothing arbitrarily contended for. A compromise of a silent nature was agreed to, and all that was desired was that the works should be proceeded with. After the broken promises of Messrs Clapcott and Cargill when here the district ceased to have any faith in the road ever being made. Now when the road is about to be commenced, after such labor and excitement, we find a Mr Pinkerton waiting upon the members of the Provincial Council, and urging that the course of road accepted via Frankton

should be altered again to the eft condemned one via the Arrow and Arthur's Point, and the compromise and pledges given on the matter by the Government attempted to be thrown acquiesce, what faith can people repose in promises from Provincial Ministers ? By what right does AJf Brodie constitute himself in conjunction with an Arrow candidate, the arbiter of the igay a road should come ? By what right is the fire-brand of discord pitched amongst us'togain ? The Government will do well to listen to no interested influences, but carry out a road beneficial to all interests of the Province in the direction engineers, surveyors, and the mass of the population have decided to be the best, and to which, moreover, they have pledged themselves.

While touching upon the roads, we may state that £2OO is to be spent on the ArrowCardrona track at once, and, further, some upon the Maori Point and Moke Creek tracks. The Skipper's track, however, requires the most serious and urgent attention, especially as the works are readily to be executed at a moderate outlay. The money voted should be expended at once, and though departmental mismanagement have retarded the formation of these necessary works, we trust a better system is drawing upon us, and that the Dick Ministry will not only give us good promises but carry them out. We believe they are doing so, and the contracts that are let evince this.