TAIERI BRIDGE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 317, 26 March 1875, Page 2

TAIERI BRIDGE.

(To the of the Editor Mount Ida Chbojticle.) Sib, —Knowing that you' arc ever ready to advocate the cause of whatever is for the good of the greater number of the residents in the district, you would most suredly benefit them and the country bA using your influence in checking the experiditure of a large amount of public money, which is about to be misapplied in bridging the Taieri at the foot of the Hogburn Creek. The. absurdity of erecting a bridge at;this point must be obvious to you, seeing it.can only benefit the few Hamilton people who,- on rare occasions take a pleasure trip to Naseby, and would only use it in times of floods, while th=j great and daily increasing traffic (including a mail and passenger coach four time 3 a week) through Strathtaieri and Hyde, via jYaseby, is left to cross a3 best it m*y the dangerous ford at the .foot of the lake. It cannot be possible that the Government is thoroughly acquainted with the above facts, or they would never act so irrationally, as to bridge the at. an isolated spot while the crossing on the main line of road, four or five miles fur•l her down the river, is passed, over daily by people driving and riding, and-is most dangerous when the river is even the least flooded.

: If the Govern ment have any care for the'salvation of lives, it mil erect the contemplated bridge on the main line below the lake without delaj-. The Hamilton people would be more benefitted if a road were made for them from their township by the b ck of Fiat Cap Hill- to the plain line from Hyde, thus placing them in proximity with the projected Hundreds and settlement, of the Honndburn, which, wonld do ten times more good to their declining township than a bridge at the foot of Hogburn Greek. Hoping you will insert the above, and give some the matter, I am, &c.; Eock and Pillab..

■ [We can assure our correspondent that the Government are doing a very wi3e thing in proposing to bridge the Taieri at the Hogburn Creek. Not only is this awise proposal but it is a humane oue—as three lives have been lost within a very short time at this very dangerous ford. The alternative site advocated by " jßock and Ejllar " is close to the best and safest ford to be found on the Taieri River, and, as a footbridge is provided for foot passengers, except in times of great flood, ia no obstacle to traffic. The real obstacle to traffic on the road is the dangerous fords* at Mardling's Ferry. A bridge at tho Kyeburn would not help the mall coach over that. The Hamilton people evidently prefer to make use of the lands on each side of tKe Taieri 'River, near their own home;. and the Hamilton people are right. —Ed. M.I.C.] : ;