Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1872. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume IV, Issue 221, 25 April 1872, Page 4

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1872. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The Tuapeka and Tokomairiro road, between Manuka Creek and Havelock, has been cut up to such an extent that waggoners have found it impossible to travel on it, and have been compelled to resume using the Round Hill road. Even for the lightest vehicle the road is exceedingly difficult to traverse! It is becoming worse every day, and very shortly it will be altogether impassable. That this result was inevitable, were the road not metalled, was pointed out frequently, but all warnings were systematically disregarded. Any further delay in taking steps necessary to render the road passable, will have the effect of closing it for several months. Should such a contingency arise, it will cause great public inconvenience as well as in many cases expense, and seriously impede trade. All traffic between Tuapeka and " down country " will have to go over the Round Hill, which to all acquainted with that road, is a " terror." especially in winter time. The completion and maintenance in a fairly passable condition of the new road is of vital importance to

the residents of several large and important districts, and their being compelled to fall back on the Round Hill track, even for one winter, would be nothing less than a great misfortune. Besides, it is the height of folly for the Government, after spending such a large sum of money qn the formation of this road to leave it in a state unfit for traffic. It would not cost a great deal to complete the work of metalling the road throughout. The metalling of some 80 chains of the road is we believe, being proceeded with, but unless all the road is metalled, that work will not be of the slightest use. While on the subject, we may state that in many - places, unless the road is pitched before being metalled, the cost of the latter operation will be money wasted. The work wants doing properly and thoroughly, or it will not stand. We trust the Provincial Government, will see the imperative necessity for at once taking steps to

render the large expenditure that has been incurred in the making of the new road from Manuka Creek to Havelock, useful, by rendering the road available for traffic.

We have until now refrained from .commenting on the circular Mr. Ormond sent to the various Superintendents, relative to the employment of Chinese labour in the construction of railways, in the hope that further light would be thrown on the subject, or some kind of explanation of the motives which actuated Mr. Ormond in writing the circular given. Such further light or explanation has not been, or does not seem likely to be vouchsafed, so we have to treat the circular as it was published. Mr. Ormond's colleagues have disclaimed all responsibility with it, but their disclaimer cannot be taken as proof that they had nothing to do with its authorship, for it is extremely I improbable that any single member of the Executi/e would, on his own individual responsibility, take such an important step. The circular itself is significant as showing the interpretation placed by at least one member of the Colonial Ministry on the colonising scheme. Railway construction and immigration were to go hand in hand, according to Yogel. The railways were to give the immigrants a start in the colony, and afford them employment until they were able to settle down. One would suppose that the Ministry wonld be the last to defeat the successful carrying out of their own scheme. Judging them by Mr. Orraond's circular, they are the first to suggest a mode of doing so completely. The introduction of Chinese would be a direct contravention of the spirit of the Immigration and Public Works Act. It is no use repeating the arguments against Chinese as colonists; suffice it to say that by merely tolerating them, too many of them have come to the colony. If they were encouraged, we should be overwhelmed by them. The railways would certainly be constructed cheaper by Mongolian than by Euroropean labour ; but were the former employed, where would v be the smiling homesteads, which, as a natural result of the Yogel scheme, are to dot New Zealand ? This notable circular only strengthens the feeling of distrust with which the conduct of the Colonial Ministry is regarded in many quarters, and next session it will behove members of the General Assembly to institute a strict enquiry into the circumstances which led to its being written.

A petition is being extensively signed, praying the Provincial Council to erect a bridge across the Molvneux at the Beaumont. The

propo&ed bridge would be of great service and convenience to waggoners and the general travelling public. The non-existence of a bridge at the Beaumont has diverted a large amount of traffic which naturally belongs to the valley of the Molyneux to the Waikouaiti and Palmerston roads. We allude to the traffic between Dunedin and Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Cardrona, and other goldfields in their direction. Punts, from the nature of their construction and mode of working, are inconvenient, and impede traffic, and the cost of working them necessitates high charges being made for their use. On the Beaumont punt, the petitioners state that the cost of crossing a waggon and team amounts to ten shillings per ton — a very considerable impost. The movement for getting a bridge erected is a step in the right direction ; but we think the petitioners have scarcely taken the proper course. The Provincial Council has neither money nor credit ; its revenue is being continually docked by the General Government; so it is not at all likely that they will ever be in a position to undertake the erection of the proposed bridge. The speedier and better way for the petitioners to secure their object would be to ask the Council to offer inducements to an individual or a company to undertake the construction of the bridge. The Council would, we feel assured, grant that request — indeed, it could scarcely refuse doing so. A better speculation than constructing a bridge over the Molyneux, at the Beaumont, could scarcely be found. From the nature of the banks of the river, the work would _be comparatively easy of execution, and the cost would not exceed £50QD-or £6000 at the very outside. At one-half the rates charged by the punt, there would be a handsome revenue, which would increase year by year. Due regard would of cowse have. tQ be

paid to existing rights; that is a matter which could easily be arranged, and need cause no uneasiness. We strongly recommend the petitioners to request the Council not to erect the bridge, but to give anyone who erects it protection for a certain distance along the river for a number of years. The required capital could very quickly be raised, and the bridge erected much sooner than if the Government undertook the work.