Correspondence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 413, 2 December 1874, Page 3

Correspondence.

SAND! SAND! SAND! {To the Editor.)

I On the road between Alexandra and Clyde, about one mile and a half from the former place, is a bed of sand, in length along the road about half a mile, which makes the road very heavy for wheel traffic ; and from a communication which appeared in your paper from this place, it was suggested that this sand should be carted from off it. However, this suggestion haa not been: acted on. but for the last fortnight two men hare been at work on this sand bed, taking gravel from the ground immediately adjoining the track or, dray road and depositing the same on this tfack or dray road, without in the first place Clearing away the sand. What the object is, lamat a loss to understand. From information received, this is being done under the instructions aud directions of °the' Road Engineer. No doubt some busybody or another has been making misrepresentations to the Boad Engineer respecting this road. Now there, is one tiling certain, that the whole of the money expended on this sandbed is thrown away, and I would simply ask the gentleman under whose instructions this useless work is being done, whether as a rule he makes roads through or over sand-beds, more particularly when they oau Le avoided ; and would suggest that in future the Road Engineer should consult the Municipal authorities in those matters. Had he done so in this instance, there is not one of tlie members of ' our Council but could hare pointed out that this bed of sand is shifting, and consequently undesirable to construct a road through. lam in a position to state that this road (or line of gravel) will nob be able to be identified after two days 6f high wind from the south ; and further, the holes made immediately alongside, out of which tlie gravel is taken, are at the present time in some instances filled with sand, and absolutely converted into mantraps. Independent 1 of every other consideration, it is a great pity that money should be laid out under our very noses, which will never benefit us in any shape, and should we ab any time make application to the Government for money for permanent improvements — for instance, a bridge to span the Molyneux — we shall be told that we are always making applications; of some sort or another, and that we are not entitled to any, having had so much laid out on the road between Alexandra and Clyde, so much for Ferry road, grants for Library &c. Now, I would suggest to our Town Council that they should immediately take steps to stop this waste of public money, and endeavour to divert it into another channel — say a bridge, whieb would be a benefit not only to Alexandra, but the public generally, thereby doing the greatest good to tbe greatest number :■ and that it should ba gone about in a business way, and no attempt made -at logrolling, as is generally tho rase in those matters, which is a great mistake in onr form of Government. There is no doubt our Executive have to be guided in a great measure by representations made to them, some times by the M.P.C., at others by the business men who have been f ortunate enough in business to get the ear of the merchants in Duuedin — hence the logrolling so much complained of j and in a great many instances- the parties to this logrolling are the most ignorant in tbe community. T think it would pay the G-overnment to employ competent" .persona to transact their business, and that such persons should be answerable to the Council— that is, so long as we have Provincial institutions, which I trust will not be long, as any change cannot possibly be for the worse. — I am, &c, .Sand. Alexandra, 23rd Xov., 1874.