The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1885. AT LAST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1568, 28 November 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1885. AT LAST.

Our readers will be pleased to learn by advertisement appearing elsewhere that the Manchester Road Board are inviting tenders for the construction of a road bridge over the Manawatu River at the Lower Ferry. Times and again have we ur^ed the importance of this undertaking being put m hand and always maintained that it should rank as the most necessary and urgently required public work m this district. The timber has lain on the ground for many months, but the work of construction remained m abeyance until the subject came to be referred to as a hope deferred, the final accomplishment of the work almost being despaired of. Many years ago the erection of a wooden bridge over the Wanganui river was contemplated, and the work authorised by the then Provincial Government. A large portion of the piles and other timber required was cut m the Rangitikei district, and carted m by bullock teams at a heavy cost to the future site, a little above where the present noble, iron structure now spans the river, a monument to the skill of the designer ; and we may add with equal truth and appropriateness, an enduring testimony to the faithful workmanship of the contractor for its erection, our townsman, Mr Henby McNeil. A pile or two was driven, and then the work was discontinued. For years a solitary pile standing out of the foreshore showed where it was intended the bridge should have been erected The timber which was cut and transported at such a heavy cost disappeared as years rolled on, and with many old Wanganui citizens any reference to the bridge usually caused an outburst of pent up feeling, which was l given expression to m the language j of bitter disappointment and angry j despair. The history of the two i undertakings, it will be seen, bear a similarity to each other to some extent. In each have there many and fruitless attempts been made to get the work started, and m each for many years have difficulties, obstructions and obstacles prevented a commencement being made. No doubt, but for the persistent imporportunity, vigilance, tact and perseverance of our member, Mr Macauthue, who left no stone unturned to accomplish one of the chief aims of his political life, as representative m Parliamrnt for Manawatu, and who watched his opportunity with undeviatingsteadfastness of purpose, the important connecting link, now about to be commenced m real earnest, would have remained m statu quo ante, (to use a favourite phrase of Hkutjsk m his messages antnt the progress of international diplomatic negotiations) for some years to come. The provisions of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act were used as the factor by which the indispensable ways and and means were to be obtained ; and had it not been for the fact that the work had, so to speak, been commenced, by a quantity of the timber having been laid on the ground, it is doubtful if the grant would hare been procurable. It was at this stage that the earnest representations of the Member for the District must have been attended with practical results; and we feel no hesitation m saying that to Mr Macarthur's good offices and zealous regard for the district, may be attributed the fact that tenders are now being palled for the erection of the Gorge Bridge. We earnestly ljippe no unforeseen contingency will now or subsequently arise by which any further delay m the commencement of operations will take place. The Gorge Bridge is a work that must materially benefit all parts of ffie district, and we look forward to t|)e final consummation of uninterrupted road communication between kljJB Kast and West Coasj;s as tlje preJucje to a period of more substantial prosperity dawning upon these districts. We congratulate our neighbours across the Kange on the further step m advance at length Achieved toward the desired end m

view. The news will be as welcome m Woodville as m Palmerston and Ft-ilding. not forgetting Ashurst and even inclndina: Rangitikei and Wanganui, as all those places have often deplored the obstacles to progress and settlement now about to be permanently removed by the construction of tho Gorge Bridge.