The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Issue 208, 9 December 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1879.

The lafc.'sfc news from England is not reassuring in any way. Complications «re ar sing un every hand, and war id not impossible. England has been kept very active of late with t.ie Zulus and the Indian wars. No sooner are these off her hands, however, than rumors of wars in other quarters jrc circulated. Paissia is n-3tlesß ; Austria is watching her, and rt-ady to take advantage of any opportunity that may occur, to enablo her to extend her boundary line. France and Germany are watching each oth'ir with the keenest joulousy and fear of surprises. The whole continent s. ems to be listening. with the expectation of hearing the war cry Bounded ouce more amongst nations that brothers be. Discontent always prevails in times of adversity; often the complaints are ill-founded, but in the case of Rusßia, surely there is something wrong when combinations are entered into to destroy life and property so recklessly as the inhabitants of the large cities in the Russian Empire are doing. The late attempt to destroy the life of ib!i*=s Emperor is the most dastardly and cowardly action that has yet been chronicled. The marvellous escape of crowned heads, which happens .from time to time, inspires one with the feeling that they have a destiny to fulfil and uni&t accomplish it. How strange that so few of these well-laid out plans are successful. The despotic rule of the Russian Monarch is behind the age. Yet we regret to learn that,insteadof instituting needful reforms, the Czar only vows to sharpen thef sword, and n o.'e tightly rivet the chains which bind his unhappy people. A more liberal policy, and a gieater willingness to give his subjects a voice in the governing of the empire, would sooner put an end to these murinurings than oppressive measures will ever do. England has at present a very difficult card to play. Like a« in a small community, some are ever ready to set one against another. So with England. Some of the Continental Powers would be pleased to see England embroiled with some of her grasping euemies. But we have no fear of her being caught in the net. She has now a splendid army and navy ; she has also good men at the head of affairs. She can therefore hold her own against all her enemies, and is also able to defeat the most crafty of thoir schemes.

The telegram stating that Austria was to hold Stamboul is sheer nonsense. England has not yet forgotten the position Austria (ook up when the Crimean War was raging. She mannged to get hers If appointed umpire, but it vn> soon found out that she adjudicated for her own interest. England will never allow any Continental Power to hold Constantinople.

The Opihi Riv-;r has, through much rain on the hills, been thrown into heavy flood. On Sunday afternoon the flood was within a few inches of the beams of the bridge. Had it risen a little higher, the bridge would- most certainly have gone to the sea, and it is probable that it would have taken the railway bridge with it. Some of the protective works gave way, and scores of tons of boulders, with which the massive crates were ballasted, were driven like chaff before the wind. The large spars were smashed up as if they were carrots. Two of the groins were carried away, and several others injured. One of the crates passed through the bridge, the other came full tilt against the piles, and there remained,filling up the channel between the piles. Had the flood continued, and the usual debrisbeenbi ought down, nothing couid have saved the whole fabric from going. The river has shifted considerably to toe north of late, consequently the flood wag higher for the bridge stands than we have ever seen it since the big flood. Well it was for Mr Spillane that he removed Irs hotel, or it would have gone to glory. The approaches to the bridge at both ends are slightly damaged.

It has often been remarked how unnaturally the protective works were put up pointing up stream, thus forming an elbow. This it was that led to their destruction. In any case the worthlessness of these groins to protect the banks, ! or indeed for any good whatever in the I case of floods, wan clearly demonstrated on Sunday last. The Temuka was also partially in flood ; the Orari in high flood, as well as the other rivers N. and S. The rain poured down heavily all Saturday and Sunday forenoon, but about three o'clock it slackened and the rivers began to go down. Such a continuance of wet at this season of the year has not ever happened before, and everyone must earnestly wish for sunshine weather to save the crops. The hard-working husbandman has much to contend with —too much drought, or too much wet ; too many nor'-westers to thrash the grain out, or too little sunshine and dry weather to prevent rust and blight. The flood in the Opihi again draws our attention to the necessity for something being done to the Opihi Bridge. For several days now, perhaps a whole week, traffic will be suspended, and thi3 is not an isolated case. What is to be done ? That is the question we ask ourselves We had hoped the present Government would have introduced an amended Counties Act. That it has not done so does not surprise us. The Hall Government is not one of progress. To be true to its principles of procras'tination must be its watchwtri. Seeing, then, that nothing will be done by the Government, the county must take steps in the mafcttr, for it is not right that life should be jeopardised to please a fac tion. The Government have already assumed the functions of the county. It has appointed a Slaughterhouse Inspector ; it intends to take steps to have the Rangitata Bridge repaired, but wto is to pay the piper—the ratepayers within the county ? Whether it will be wise to let the Government expend the money, and deduct it from the Road Boards' accounts, or whether it would be wiser for the county io take up the Act aDd work it, we leave the ratepayers to judge. For our own parts, we say let us havethe handling of our own money. We do not believe in delegating our right to a body of men residing in Wellington If the county took the work in hand, it would be done batter, quicker, and cheaper. We repeat it is time to be up and doing ; it is time to be able to say to the Government—" Thus far shalt thou go, and no further."