PAHAUTANUI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 6118, 11 November 1880, Page 3

PAHAUTANUI.

(FBOM A COEBESPONDENT.) A want that has been long needed at Pahautanui, has at length been supplied in the erection of a bridge across the mouth of the Horokiwi river. The settlers residing on the northern side of the bay have hitherto had to ford this river, which at high tides was always inconvenient and often dangerous. The County Council some few months ago invited tenders for this work, but those sent in were considered too high, and none were accepted. It has now been done by day labor by the men who are regularly employed upon the road. Mr. R. Smith, the Councillor for the ward, superintended the work, which appears to be a good firm job, and no doubt the settlers generally who have occasion to travel that road will appreciate the boon. The cost of the work, including the timber, was about £75. Mr. Smith had great difficulty in getting the money voted for this work, as there are very few ratepayers in that portion of the ward, and preference has been given to works in the more populous parts of the various wards. There are some stttlera at the Paikakariki end of the ward, who complain of inattention to their wauls, and with some show of reason, as they say it is rather hard for them to be paying rates for years, and their money to be spent in the centres of population, while they have had to do without a road in their immediate locality, and have been compelled to drag their goods four or five miles through the sand hills and swamps. The Warden may not deserve blame for this, no doubt he has had great difficulties to contend with in these cases, and with few exceptions the ratepayers are well satisfied with Mr. Smith, and consider that he has been painstaking and energetic in getting a fair share of the public money spent in improvements in his ward. The difficulty is likely soon to be remedied, as the Council is endeavoring to get a road made right through inland from Paikakariki to Waikanae, a distance of about eight miles, A preliminary meeting has been held with the natives at Waikanae by a deputation from the County Council, consisting of Mr. J, Taylor, Chairman, Mr. R. Smith, Mr. W. Fitzherbert, engineer, and Mr. Jones, the Clerk of the Council. It was also arranged that a deputation from the Manawatu County Council should meet at the same time and place, but they failed to make an appearance, at which the natives were very indignant. X understand there were about three hundred natives present. A consultation was held with them, and it is likely that all obstacles will be smoothed over so far as making the road to Waikanae is concerned.

While on the subject, I think it would be advisable for the Council to instruct their engineer to examine and report upon the condition of the Pahau-anui bridge. It has been erected about twenty years now, and must be getting the worse for wear. In fact, some of the piles and stringers were rotten years ago, and have been patched up on several occasions. The bridge has also received some severe shocks from floods, and it is probable that in its weak state a heavy flood might sweep it away altogether.