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Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 917, 9 May 1878, Page 2

We gave the Government credit for an ingenuous endeavour to meet, the wishes of the Borough of Hamilton, m the matter of the traffic bridge oveu the Waikato at Hamilton, and considered that all that could and need have been said m the matter of arrangenienf was -said on : the occasion of , flip Premiers- last visit to Waikato, -and. " : that 'too', to 'the mutual ■ satisfaction of all parties. It seems, however that there is a , hitch. spinewhere. The plans of the bridge, a? our readers are aware,- • were forwarded from Wellington to the Hamilton Council, but not the specifications. At a meeting of the buvgesses ; called immediately -after the receipt of the .-plans by the Mayor, (he Government plan of the bridge was adopted, and two days afterwards, satisfied with the plans, the , burgesses almost unanimously sanctioned the raising of tho' loan ■of £7,000 for the part construction of the bridge. The Council the", sent to Wellington for the specifications, but receiving no reply, telegraphed on tlie 2nd inst. The following -asnwer was- received on Saturday last, and is the telegram referred to on Tuesday m our report of last Monday's; Council proceedings \r— "Wellington, May 4. To Chairman, of Borough Council, - . ... . ,; ' liamiltou. . - In reply to your telegram of the 2nd inst., tlie Hon. the Minister for Public Works directs me to say that tlie specifications cannot ho prcpircd until the question of the nature of the bridge, whether combined or otherwise, has bcun seitled to the satisfaction of all parties concerned: 'Jhc Hon. Sir George Grey ami tho Hon. Mr Sheehtiu were requested by the Minister to settle it during' their present visit to Wuikato. The Minister ' for Public Works wishes you. to see them, aud get the matter finally arranged.— John Kkowlks. Under Secretary Publio -Works. That such a reply should have evoked somewhat warm comment when read m the Borough Council was no more than might have been expected, but it is yet,, we trust, a 1 question open l to doußt whetli3r i t indicates, an attempt on the part of the Govern men fc to shuffle out of the ob'igationa distinctly entered into by the . Premiec. It is more pro-.i bable, we think, that the nature of the reply of the Under-Seeretary is the consequence of the arrangement not being thoroughly understood at /Wellington, or of the department not having been officially informed with sufficient explicit- ' ness', as ' to the : understandingcome to between: Premier and tH'e Boroagii Council/ The matter requires explanation, and at once, and an opportunity has beeu afforded to tbo Premiex* hy tho

;Eu Conncil to do so. Th° llprawin^ Mption was passed l:>y the O6iincil, ; :ind, together with a copy f egr;un, was ordered to be Mlgraftli'ed to tho Premier at Alex■^ha^tliis Council are at a loss to un" clerstand^'telegTain No. 320, dated May 4, ■18^8yln 'reply" to tlioir application for the specifications of tho Government plan of tlie traffic bridge, more especially since jSir George. Grey .has made amiuy-cmi'iits for tlie payment by installments of the subsidy granted for that work. Copy of telegrams to bo appended. --Whether Sir George Grey* returning frbm tiro meeting at Hikurangi, will visit Hamilton on his way down, or whether he will pass by water, is not known, but m any case he has the opportunity of finally settling the matter personally or by telegraph on his return to Alexandra.