The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1880.
The state of the Opihi river, we regret to say, a ain calls for remark. Daring the recent heavy rainfall this river wa s flooded from bank fo bntik. After its subsidence it was found fhgt fhe old crossing was unfordablc, and that some other part < | the stream mgst be tri.d. About half a mile up frorq the site of the former bridge, a crossing of a toituo.yis character was touud possible to be effected, but for heavy the river übw—two weeks after the flood—ds still impracUble, and drays only half Laded are daily to be seen fix.tl, in the miflst of the stream until help could be got to remove them, Others take oyer one half and go back for the other half of thei load. How long is this to continue ? How lupg is the business of the distnc to be retarded ? How long is the dis grace of this being the only untridged river in ( anterbury to rest upon us ? Who is to blame ? What is the reason fhat when men are knocking about idle by the hundred, and timber blocking up the yards of our wood merchants, life and property continues to be endangered for want of a bridge across this treacherous stream ? One of the ostensible reasons given by some of the members of the Gerald)ae County Council for bringing the Counties Act into operation was that the Opihi and other rivers, which a single Road Board had not power to deal will), might he bridged. Now, however, alter the Council has been in full swing lor some mouths, things remain ig statu quo. Over and over again has the Tejuuka Road Board' introduced the subject, to the Levels Road Board ; -but even an" effort to provide some way o preventing accident from crossing in the dark,- .’has been but coldly received. Things are now at last come to such a pass tliat the people will stand it no longer, When the subject is introduced on any occasion, /we hear the remark made that no one would grqdge being rated moderately—rated for such a n cessary wm'k. If the loss of time and the loss of'.materiel were recovered, it would be found that a very large amount is thrown away for noth'ng. Not only is this true, but the district js veiy much kept back throug stoppage of regular ccmmunicatbu between the towns. The loss to farmers particularly is a frying loss iu these times. To those who have to come from Kakahu and Waitohi to the railway station, it would . be little more expense to cart their pro |
duco into Timaru if they could get over
the river. We have heard it proposed by sotpe to levy a rate on the county, by others that the Tenjuka Road Board pay one half the cost, and Geraldine, Mount Peel, and the Levels pay the other half, it being admitted that Tmiuka is most interested. We will not dictate, but repeat that it is the duty of the powers that be to have the work put in hand at once The patience of the people is marvellous, seeing the inconvenience that they are put to. Economy in disbursing public funds is no doubt a wise policy, but there is a possibility for this to be parried too far, and in tlie ease referred to we think it is the extreme of caution. This river must be bridged ; no better time could be got, and if it were put in hand at once, it could be ready by next harvest. Were it available much of the grain that now goes to Christchurch would go to Timaru. If it is delayed much longer the chances are that the whole of the traffic this side of the Opihi will be driven into this channel. The County Council, \vho now holds the control of these matters, are acting a penny wise and pound foolish policy by putting this work off from time to time. It will be observed from a report of the last meeting of the Council that a member gave notice that he would move at the next meeting that a rate bo struck to carry nut this work. It is for the people of tins district to signify their willingness for tins being done, or to prove by their apathy that they are content to puc up with the risk and loss to an iudefinate period. The Council meets again on the 10th August,
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Temuka Leader, Issue 271, 17 July 1880, Page 2
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754The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1880. Temuka Leader, Issue 271, 17 July 1880, Page 2
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