THE FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1875.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 325, 28 May 1875, Page 2

THE FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1875.

The correspondence, published elsewhere between the Provincial and Colonial Governments—in-reference" to an increase being obtained on-the original appropriation for the Public "Works in this district—abundantly confirms what we have over and over agaiD stated, —That the interests of the Goldfields have been entirely ignored by the Provincial Executives. The only application for sufficient money to complete the Mount Ida Water Works out of the original vote of £300,000 for water works on Goldfields was the letter of the 17th June, 1874, which was only forwarded in consequence of [pressure brought to bear through the Provincial Council then, in session. When this tardy application was made it was too late, as, during the year 1873 to 1874„more energetic Provincial Governments had put in claims which swallowed up the whole vote. When the Colonial Financial Statement was made—closing accounts up to 30th Juue, 1873—there was a balance of Vote unallotted of £101,898 7s. 3d. Immediately after this date the attention'of the Provincial Government of Otago was drawn to the;fact that, independently of th&~ head race requirements, money would be needed to make the channel an efficient.work. Yet the whole year was alloWedto pass, without a single application being made for money, or even without an intimation being given to the Minister; for Works that it was not probable : the head race could be completed for the estimated price. Now, it is. attempted —on behalf of the Province—to assert that theie is no responsiblity, because the surplus money is needed for ? tbe alteration and exensiou of the Sludge Channel. This is a false It is well known that the Alteration was only agreed to on the distinct understanding that no more money was at that date available; that, in consequence, it was laid off to stop, iwhere the original appropriation was calculated to ruu out. The money theii required to complete the works—the iead race and the channel, so far as it comes—is a direct responsibility~of the Provincial authorities, —a responsibility which they undertook when they recommended the works in 1872, and which they, were bound to see carried out and provided for. The channel must certainly be completed foranother mile; but that is not now tne matter iu dispute. If the Colonial Government,dp not choose to extend the' channel they must be prepared to make concessions to others they should receive themselves. There is actually not money sufficient to complete the liead race. It cannot be pretended there have been alterations on it. The gross ignorance shown by the Engineer's Department as to these! works can hardly be credited. It was actually believed that the old contract with Farmer and Co. was the one now in force on the Sludge Channel—a contract which has been cancelled fully twelve months ago. With such ignorance existing it is no wonder that the contractors have been doing exactly what they like, and that the two Governments are in a state of confusion on the subject! We take this opportunity to add that JMr, Eeid's statement that the reason ivhjr there was dissatisfaction in the districtwas because an outside contractor had been successful, was utterly unworthy of bis genius. It might have occurred to Mr. where contracts were more than a year overdue—and where there was no prospect of there being connected with the channel for six months more—it was hardly necessary to hunt about for a suppositious reason why there should be dissatisfaction: It will be a matter of great difficulty to obtain sufficient attention to these works from the Provincial authorities. Owing to the delicate relations between the two Governments, the General Government, in the absence of Mr. Vogel will not care to interfere. We are almost inclined to believe that the only remedy at present possible is the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry into the state and prospect of all the Colonial schemes of water supply now in hand. Even this would be of no avail if the Provincial Government refuse to be answerable for their Belf-assumed responsibilities.