THE BRIDGE OVER RUSSELL'S CREEK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1069, 10 February 1883, Page 3

THE BRIDGE OVER RUSSELL'S CREEK.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, —In your report of the late public meeting at Geraldine, I notice that Mr Po6tlethwaite alluded to n request th« Read Board had received for a bridge over Russell'* Creek. I would not have troubled you with this letter

if it had not been for the fact that Mi Post etliwaite in bis remarks evilently h tended to impose on tbe ignorance and indifference of the meeting with regard to the creek, and alao made a statement conromi ig it, which he knows very well is incorrect. He says that' a man could walk across it in hi 9 shoes and stockings every day in the year.' If he means us to take this only in its plain sense, it is simply a meaningless phrase. But if he to imply, as I suppose he does, that a man could walk across it dry shod, then I say'that he is makinganincorrectstatementforthe purpose of strengthening his own position. The member of the Board representing the district, whose ability and good sens? can always be relied on, has strongly urged that the work be carried out—a sufficient proof that tha demind is not an unreasonable one. Bat Mr Postlethwaile has an unfortunate hsbit of thinking that be knows more than anyb-dy else, and because he happened t > visit.the cieek in dry weather, when a'l creeks were low, he imagines that is its usual condition. But thosa people who l?ve near it and use it every day, winter and summer, know rather more abo it it thin he does. Hence their request. Ami now, Bir, a few word* to show Mr Postiethwaite's consistency. Referring to Peckham's road hi said at the meet ins : ' were several names of m n o i the petitions who nevar med th • road in their live?, and was the Board to be inflneneed by petitions of that kind V And yet, what does be himself do con cerning Kussell's creek. After the Boird had agreed to nail for tenders for the work, he goes round and intern'ws .-eveial residents in the district, who all state that the work is net needed ; but who are they that tell him so ? Out of five, four < f them ' never use the road,' and he makes use of this at the n-xt meeting of the Rial B >ar 1 to stop the work. The fifth objects on account of various reasons. lam informs 1 that Mr in Postiethwaite pat the question to him this form,' Would you make the bridge yourself, out of your own pocket V to which the man naturally answered : <No, ?ertainly not.' A most original way of finding out whether a work is needed or not, ami if acted upon in all case? will no doubt save the Road Board, a large amount cf money. Whether it will be satisfactory to the public is another question.—l am, etc., W. M. Moore.