DUNSTAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 393, 23 September 1874, Page 2

DUNSTAN.

{From our own Correspondent,

It is reported that Messrs. Naylo* and Hazlett, the deputation from the town counciL have been successful in their mission to Dunedin for the purpose of making terms with the Government about bridging th© Molyneux at Clyde, and also to raise the necessary funds ; so what we often hear is to greatly advance the prosperity of the district may now be looked on as within grasp. Exception has been taken by several Alexandra correspondents of yours lately and heretofore relative to what has appeared in the editorial columns of our local journal in favor" of bridging the Molyneux here, and diverting the traffic from Butchers on to Clyde. Jn

general these writers have taken up the extremes on their respective sides of the question. The principal complaint of the Alexandra correspondents is that the traffic will be diverted from passing through that town, and that though doing so will not benefit Clyde to a great extent, as the traffic is bound to pass through there in cither case. This may be true, still I do not see what Alexandra has done that the public or the traffic to Clyde and upwards should be com- I pelled to make a circuit of three or four miles if a road can be got direct for the simple reason of pausing through Alexandra. Instances are not wanting where towns have suffered at the expense of bringing main roads by more direct routes. The original township of Tokomairiro, or Fairfax as it was called was abandoned, through the road taking another course, and the town of Milton cut up out of private property took its place. Since the road over the Knobbys was deemed impracticable, Roxburgh on the east side, has given up all pretentious -to become a town, and the Queenstown traffic does not necessarily pass through Arrowtown. On the other hand, I do not see how the prosperity of this town or district depends so entirely as these editorials state on having this bridge constructed. With a proper road from thence to Butchers, it will no doubt be a great benefit to the public and those engaged in traffic, and will place the miners around Butchers and the settlers in Speargrass Flat within easier distance of Clyde, and no doubt will draw a little of their trade to Cylde. The opening of tho Tuapeka Sailway cannot be supposed to materially increase the traffic to a great extent at such a distance from the terminus as Clyde and beyond it, and as that traffic from whatever source already passes through, the advantages to the town cannot be so very great. But with improved roads and bridges from Tuapeka one source of support to the town which is now considerable, will be cut off ; I refer to the up and down coaches and their passengers staying over night in Clyde, as we may look for a daily eqach from the terminus to Cromwell. Then a double journey ca lbe made from there to Queenstown. The objection by some even among ourselves is that the work is not a proper one for the Corporation to take in hand, and certainly there are some strong arguments in support of this objection. If the bridge with the rase of tolls allowed to be charged turns out an unprofitable speculation, the citizens will suffer by having their rates raised to make up the deficiency ; if, on the contrary, ib should be a success and in time show a credit balance, a dividend among the ratepayers would be a new feature in municipal workings and no doubt means would be used to prevent such an occurrence, so that then the Municipal body has all the risk, with little chance of realising the profits. I have now got to refer to another deputation which was sent from here, the result of which if it had been properly followed up, by our large minded Councillors would have added more to the prosperity of the town of Clyde than the bridge will ever do. This deputation went to stop the sale of land in the Wai keri keri required for thejuse of the miners. Though too late in the field to save one important piece which had beeu irrecoverably disposed of, but it was held in abeyance until the Superintendent and Q-oldfields Secretary should visit the locality and endeavour to make terms with the purchaser. The terms offered were that the Government would expend sixteen thousand pounds to "make reserves to store the waters of the Wai keri keri for the use of the town and for ihe miners and settlers. Jfr. Feraud was to give up his right to the fifty acres if he would get half a head of water for Moate Christo, , but the Council would not agree to give the water, so the matter fell through and Mr. Feraud received his title to the land. Surely this «f as short-sighted policy. The district would have benefited by the important works being constructed in it, the Government would have had to resume possession of the rights that are granted, and the compensation paid would put more beneficial" machinery on the coalpit where the bulk of the water is used, the water then would be available for mining, only so much as would be required for the use of^the town, which if . properly utilised would be very little. I need not pursue the subject further, but will hasten to the closing scene. Through that deputation a minute was put on tha Executive Books that Lands on Goldfields be advertised in local papers before they could be purchased, and the Government have paid compensation to leaseholders in the valley to the amount of six or eight hundred pounds. But by the proceedings of the Magistrates Court a week ago the people who pressed hard on this deputation to go and who pledged themselves to pay the expenses only contributed £16 therewith, to pay tae expenses of Wo to Dunedin and. back, ■without reverting to the case which was brought by M'Pherson against Hazlett and Hastie the appointed collector of subscriptions, he only having received £3 of < -*">the £16. The result was that neither the public nor their collectors are amenable to law, so let me warn deputations who have to do with a dishonourable and unthankful public to have their expenses beforehand, or they nmy like them come off second best.