The Invercargill Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1864.
J.-vxi'Anr's kuell is ruiii>- : wa have two months more of autumn, during which ay c may calculate on fine weathe r. AVhat has been done to secure the Lake traffic during the ensuing winter ? AV'ill the Northern Railway be finished i as far as Winton, and has tlie Grovern- | ment satisfied itself of this ? It must be pretty evident to every one, even to tlie Uoads' department — i that is to say if any one belonging to that useful and energetic onicclnis taken the trouble to personally ascertain the j fact — that tlie Northern liailway will not be open for traffic as far as Winton before winter is on us, even though we should be fortunate enough to have a late one this year, as is not improbable. We do not lay any blame on Mn. Daties, the Contractor ; what energy could do, lie has done. All the skilled labor he could obtain here he has ! employed, and any deficiency has been supplied by importing largely from Australia. Throughout the line active operations are going on, ! presenting a marked contrast to the energy of the Grovernment as displayed in the road-making line of ! business. The cuttings on the Northern Railway have proved heavier than was anticipated, more partioulai'ly on that j part of the line through the Makerewa I Bush; but, irrespective of this the Council was called together to pass the Ordinances connected with, this work, too late to admit of its completion throughout the line before the hoary ' King asserts his supremacy, yet we have no doubt that ifc will be open for traffic as far as the- Makerewa, thus the worst portion of the road between Invereargiil and the Lake will be viable. The thing is to keep open the road between the Makerewa and the Oreti; a work of no great difficulty if the exurberant energies of the Eoads' p apartment were concentrated on it. Prom last accounts, it would appear that its energy has developed Ht^eli 1 in the shape of "six* "crawlers" \ throughout tlie entire line, whose j notions oi 1 road repairing are what i /sight be termed unique. They con* sist of selecting with great care a bundle of twigß,notthiekertliana walking stick, (we presume the regulation standard,) depositing the same in any hole caused by the abrasion oi' cart wheels, and covering them with a. littles garden. BoiJj selected with equal care w to its
utter unfitness to withstand traffic. This accomplished, the delighted' operator leans on his spade, in contemplative mood, surveying his handiwork, and probably lights , his pipe to give a zest to his enjoyment. Occasionally a slight cloud of melancholy or doubt may cross his brow; a momentary fear that he has done it too well, so well that perhaps he will not be required to re-repair it before the week has passed ; generally, though, he exhibits the satisfied expression of an adept in the art of " how not to do it;" calmly and with the air of one who has faithfully accomplished his destiny, has worked out the problem of his life, he smokes out his pipe and resumes his useful labors. He only costs us Bs. a day, and a few pounds per day for supervision "by the Eoads' Department. This is no fiction ; anyone who travels the road caii realise the truth of our assertion. Everyone acknowledges the necessity for keeping open the road to the ' Lake throughout the winter. . Anyone who has travelled it, knows it can easily be done if proceeded with at once, and yet the Roads' Department does not move in the matter. Surely this does not proceed from over-work, or scarcity of hands in that office. Judging from the expenditure during the "last quarter, under the head of Engineers' Department, we would have imagined that a few engineers might easily have been detached at any time to see what was .wanted, — an engineer or two being neither here nor there. We trust that steps will be talc en at once in this matter. After all, there is not so much I engineering ability required ; it is more repairing than making which is now necessary. Every culvert from the Makerewa to Winton is out of order, has been so throughout the summer, and if not attended to at once, will be impassable in winter ; surely this neglect is unpardonable. Culverts I which cost hundreds to make are coolly I allowed to fall into such disrepair that j they Avill require hundreds more to make them viable : we suppose that ! about the middle of winter this lively Department will wake up, and heaps of soft clay will be thrown upon the slushy roads, rendering " confusion j worse confounded," till the very name of Engineer will drive the unfortunate carters into frenzy. The contract for oravelliuo; the road through Winton j Bush is just completed ; has any provision been made for keeping it in repair, throughout the winter ? The gravel used for it is pretty fair, and if proper care be taken, will bind well and form a good road ; to ensure this, heaps of superior gravel should at once be placed at intervals along the road, to fill in the hollows | caused by the abrasion of dray wheels before the water can lie in them, be absorbed, and percolate to the clay foundation. The two great enemies to a road being elasticity and wet, one would imagine that an engineer would turn his attention particulary to combat them ; this can easily be done as regards the road through the "Winton Bush Cutting. "Gravel, although naturally an absorbent, if put on in sufficient thickness, the roadway well curved, and the surface kept unbroken, j will turn the wet, and the foundation kept dry, the road will always be passable. Along the road leading up to and within a short distance of Winton there is a. strata of very superior gravel to be found from eight to nine feet below the surface ; this can be easily obtained during dry summer weather ; in winter the water would prevent sinking to that depth ; now, therefore, is the time to obtain it. Why is it not done ? With heaps of this gravel laid along the road in dry weather, ready to be put on at the first sign of the breaking up of the road, the cuttingthrough Winton Bush may be easily kept m good order throughout the winter : without this it willbeimpassable. Already, with the slight traffic it has experienced, the gravel has been displaced, and deep ruts formed. I\ r o steps seem to be taken to fill them up. It ' is through these the water trickles to the clay foundation and saps it. AYe understand that the G-overninent has at last determined to do something with the stone boated up the Waihopai and deposited on the stage alongside the bridge. The North road for about a quarter of a mile on each side tlie Waihopai bridge is to be pitched and metalled. This is a step in the right direction, and, although the piece is small, still it will effect good, — it will be the oasis in the carters' desert, and, doubtless, many a sigh of relief will be given when ifc is reached. To connect these two pieces of road, it will be I necessary to attend to the bridge, which is daily getting into a worse condition. Why it is not repairer! at once, is a mystery. It is this delay in repairing of which we complain, wnich costs so much money, and does so much harm. Why with such a staff cannot trifles of this description be promptly, attended to? At any rate, let the North road, from the Makerewa to the Oreti, be at once attended to. There can be no excuse urged against this. The Government argument for the Baihvay at the last Session of the Council, was the absolute necessity of securing the winter traffic to the Lake. If the Railway cannot be finished throughout the contemplated length, let the Government see that what remains is put in a viable condition before .winter sets in. The, expense will not be great, and not much engineering skill required. [Since the above was in type we learn that the G-overnment has- at last exerted itself sufficiently to send a party of. men to repair the culverts, the disgraceful state of. which we have alluded/to in the above,.]
The English Mail has at last arrived",' and the news it brings ia not of the "most cheering description ; wars and ruinouvs of wars, in the old world and the now. In the old, giant tyranny and autocracy, in its most malignant form, seeks, to crush in its iron grasp what remains of liberty are left after years of oppression. In the new, giant democracy, under the guise of liberty, seeks to ape the worst features of autocracy. As usual, the most prominent figure on the canvass is the "Man of Destiny," Napoleon the Third, who seeks while " raising the whivlwlrid'to direct the storm." On the sth of November the French Emperor opened the Chambers with one of Ms enigmatical speeches, setting all Europe con-jectui-iug what it meant, or if it meant anything ; which question it would appear, has not as yet been satisfactorily decided. Touching lightly on the policy of distant expeditions, and calling on the nation to put faith in them, he dilates at greater length on the Polish question, declaring that the feelings of friendship between the Governments of Prance and Russia were so great that nothing short of that question would have induced Mm ;" to compromise one of the first alliances of the Continent," and- proposes instead of war or suffering in silence the destruction of Poland, to submit the question to a Congress of European Powers, wMch coidd also take into consideration the various other questions I agitating Europe; which might in fact "rebuild on new foundations the edifice destroyed by the hand of time, and piecemeal by revolutions." It would declare that the treaties of 1815 have ceased to exist,; make fresh ones more in accordance with the present position of affairs ; and then all the powers could disarm. This is the ragoxit he proposes to serve up to the European Powers, who arc called upon to meet " -without a preconceived system, without exclusiAre ambition." Twenty invitations to the Congress have been issued by the Emperor, and fifteen replies received, most of which arc supposed to be favorable, though they arc anxious to know the work to be put before them. The British Cabinet has declined joining, having, not unnaturally, concluded that nothing would come of it. In all probability the Congress will not take place. The proposition for a general disarmament is still moi*e Utopian, particularly when taken in conjunction with, the sentence in his speech, " Let us no longer give factitious importance to the subversive spirit of extreme parties, by opposing ourselves with narrow calculations to the legitimate aspirations of nations." What the legitimate aspirations of France might be, if not held in check, it is difficult to determine. On the whole, the speech is considered a success ; the Emperor lias achieved his most difficult task — he has pleased the French people. French Mexican aspirations, whether legitimate or otherwise, seem likely to lead to trouble, it being reported that the Government is keeping in the background much disagreeable news from that quarter; amongst the rest, " that the French influence does not extend beyond the immediate reach of their bayonet's points, and that a force of 50,000 men at least j,is required to hold it." Meanwhile a supplementary credit of ninetyone millions of francs is asked for. From M. Fould's financial statement, we learn that the total amount of the deficits is 172,000,000 j francs. He proposes a loan of 300,000,000 francs. The expenses in Mexico for the year 1863, amounting to 210,000,000 francs. It would appear this aspiration is not a paying one. The Schbswig-llolstein question promises to prove a fruitful source of disturbance, the inopportune death of the King of Denmark, when on the eve of peacefully solving tMs ever-recurring question, has complicated the matter very considerably. The former relations between the Diet and Denmark are altered ; it is not now a quarrel about national rights — it is likely to prove a struggle for the succession. King Christian IX., in succeeding to the throne of Denmark, naturally laid claim to be the ruler of the Duchies, secured to him by the treaty of 1852, signed by Austria,, Prussia, England, Franco, Russia and Sweden. Tliis claim is disputed by Prmce Frederic, of August anburg, who has assumed the Dukedom of Schleswig-Holsteiii, and is supported by Duke Ernest of Saxe-Coburg, and G-erman sentiment. The Grand Duke of Weimar, and the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen are also reported to have recognised Mm. MeanwMle . King Christian, who has. signed the New Common Constitution, is equally .determined to maintain his"* rights, and the Danes to support him ; active preparations arc being made by the King. This quarrel is particularly disagreeable to England, from family complications, and will end, most* likely, in the Prince of Wales taking one side arid Prince Alfred the other. , [ In Prussia, ; the obstinate king seems to bo brought to bay, Ms last expedient of appealing to the people has failed, the Liberal party having been returned by a large majority,' in defiance of which the astute monarch is determined to govern unconstitutionally, and continue in the course he has hitherto pursued,which will probably lead either to revolution or abdication. Russia is carrying on its cruel aud tyrannical policy towards Poland, with, if possible, increased ferocity -and rutW.es3n.e33, having found fitting insfcrumonts in the two Moura« vieJfs— father and son. Those relentless monsfcors continue to mui'clcr, burn, plunder I andexUo, witha fiendish zosfchitherto unknown, No Box is spared, no ago or rank a protection } yet the Poles continue to resist bravely, with thoiv capital in the hands of the Russians' .boing plundered and destroyed, the spirit of insuwoction spreads. Several victories hfcve boon goiuod by tit&n. of lftto { .the insu> ycction in. Wthuaiiia is tywodlngi the gopulA*
tion of Laving declared its unalterable determination to be united to Poland. The Emperor's speech, the' proposition of a Congress, have wonderfully cheered the Poles. The belief that if they can hold but till* spring all will be well gains ground, and - tends to renewed energy and action. It is painful to think that after all this endurance and courage they niust idthnately be crushed,; that even if a Congress ever takes place, by the time a decision has been come to, the Monraviefs will have done their work, and the Pole will have disappeared from the face of tlie earth. Austria ~j has clearly decided against them. England has retired from any participation in the matter. In America the Confederates are still victorious, not merely in arms Wit strategy. The last defeat of the Federals was before Knoxville, to which position General Burnside had been driven, and thus separated farther from G-encral Grant, to reinforce whom he was moving. The three Federal armies arc thus separated by long distances from one another, and unable to communicate with facility. Fort Sumfcer, although a mass of ruins, still coninucs to hold out. ' Amongst all these clouds the happy face of Britain peeps out calm and undisturbed ; hero the sovereign has no need to puzzle her . brains, to make a speech ■; which shall please her people. That work is already accomplished. Here no Mouravieff is required to carry into effect' the - dictates of v , tyranny ; no fratricidal Avar deluges earth with blood and saps the resources of the nation. On the contrary, the year 1863 has every prospect of figuring as the most commercially prosperous one England has yet attained. Tlie value of British exportations during September shows aa excess of upwards of three millions over the corresponding month of last year. • The two items of most importance are the establishment of the Panama Eoute, a subsidy of £76,000 being guaranteed by K"cw Zealand alone ; and- the admirable appointment of Sir John Lawrence,- the saviour 'of India, to the G-overnor-Greneralship of that most 'important of England's possessions!
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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 37, 1 February 1864, Page 4
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2,711The Invercargill Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1864. Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 37, 1 February 1864, Page 4
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