Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1873. " MEASURES. NOT MEN "

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 285, 17 July 1873, Page 5

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1873. " MEASURES. NOT MEN "

In our issue of the 3rd instant, we referred to theapproachingMunicipal elections, and endeavored to awaken the dormant energies of the citizens to life and action. Whether or not the effect has proved fruitless, we cannot yet say ; but we have seen very little signs of returning animation. We have every reason to be satisfied with the actions of the Council as a whole during the past twelve months. They have done quite as much as was expected of them, although probably not so much as they might have done. They have executed several very good and useful works, and initiated others of perhaps equal utility. The policy of borrowing money for reproductive works, introduced by Cr. Hay, although not adopted to the fullest extent, has been fairly commenced by the Council. Tenders have been called " for the whole or any part of £2,000, value of Corporation bonds," to be devoted to one of those public works, of which a place occupying the position of Lawrence should not have remained so long destitute. We refer to a town hall. We hope the greater part of the required sura will be taken up by local capitalists, who will thus show their faith in the future of the town and district where they have amassed their wealth. Having made this fair start, we hope the next Council will follow in the wake, and at once set to work in carrying out the equally important project of extending the water mains. Objections were made when this subject was brought prominently before the Council, that thd iron was so exorbitant in price it would be better to wait a few months. If a few months would be likely to make any difference, the objection might stand good ; but, we fear, there is little probability of any material fall in the price of iron for some years to come. The demand at present for railways and other public works all over the world, renders any abatement in the price of iron very improbable. But this is a very poor argument to bring against ~the prosecution of such an important work in Lawrence. Why, the extra cost on the job would be trifling and unfelt by either the Council or the ratej>ayers ! If the work was completed, a water tax could be levied, and before long sufficient money raised to pay both interest atid principal. We know several persons in Ross Place who are only waiting for the extension of the pipes to utilize the water power, which would be at their command by using it for the purpose of driving machinery. We hope the ratepayers at the forthcoming election will not return any gentleman to the Council, unless he pledges himself to have this important work carried out with the least possible delay.

The great scarcity of firewood in this district, and its consequent high price, should awaken the public to a sense of the importance of making an effort to bring one of the several forests which exist not many miles (as the crow flies) from our neighhood, within our reach. Every year firewood is getting more scarce, and, ergo, more costly. A tramway might without great cost be constructed between this and one of the forests to which we have alluded, and by this means the entire district would be supplied with fuel at a rate so far below current cost as to more than pay interest on the required outlay ,> and ample sinking fund besides. Over and above all this, the cost of timber here for mining purposes is so great as to preclude the possibility of the remunerative working of large tracts of known auriferous ground in this district ; and if a tramway was constructed, such as we suggest, we are confident that timber could be brought into Lawrence at a rate which would cause to be worked many an acre of auriferous country, which otherwise will for ever remain untouched by the miner's hand. The construction of such a tramway would be attended with a three fold advantage. First, it would supply the much-needed fuel at a resonable rate; secondly, it would develope our auriferous resources ; and thirdly, it would produce large economy, because the valuable trunks of trees would be used for the timber required for mining and building, while the otherwise useless branches would be

utilized for firewood. We wish to call the attention of our worthy Mayor and Town Council to this subject, They might with good grace ask the Provincial Council now in session to place a sum on the estimates for the prosecution of this work, the necessity for which is constantly and vividly before our eyes.