THE Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 1881. THE MANAWATU BRIDGE.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 115, 9 February 1881, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9, 1881. THE MANAWATU BRIDGE.

" Words are things, and a drop of ink falling like dew upon a thought, produces tlmt which mokes thousands, jwrhnp* millions think."

In our last Saturday's issue, we referred to tha importance of repairing the Manawatu Bridge, and now through the eourtepy of Mr. J. Liirton, we publish a copy of a letter forwarded to the Government by that gentleman, which we sincerely hope will be productivs of the good to long needed. Palnierston North, F*b. 4th, 1881. Dear Sir, — At a late meeting of the Borough Council, I was authorised by resolutions to bring under your notice the factthatthepresent dilapidated state of the Manawatn Bridge, connecting Palmerston with Fitzherbert district, will certainly tell very much against the sale of Crown Lands now advertised, and as a proof of public feeling on the subject, I attach to this, an extract from the 3£4.nawatu Times on the subject. Ift> doubt you are well aware that the late heavy flood of last year caused great damage to the bridge, and that up to the presant moment, nothing of importande has been done towards repairing the damage, although the public has on many occasions brought the matter prominently before the Government. We certainly were led to suppose that something would be done at the time tho Hon. Minister for Public Works visited the spot, m company with Mr. Elnrkett, Engineer. At this time an estimate' was. made by Mr. Blackett, which showed that £1500 would be required to complete the structure as it should have been, when undertaken by the late Provincial Government, that is, to add to the length of the bridge sufficiently to carry its termination to a permanent bank on the | south side of the river. At present the south end terminates m the middle of the river bed, and is quite inaccessible for any kind of heavy traffic. I will send you a sketch from our Engineer, which will more fully explain what I mean to bring under your notice. What the public now wish is, that prior to the land sale, the Government will cause it to be publicly notified that a sum of, say. £500 will be expended upon the bridge within a reasonable time, say six months from the date of sale. After going carefully into this (to us) important matter, our engineer is of opinion that for the .sum named, £500, a good and permanent job can be made, as we "fiave been promised ah adcSitional sum of £150 from the County Council. Sir, if you can m any way arrange this matter, I am confident that from the sale of tho land now advertised, the Government wiU, at the lowest estimate fcain £ICC3, quite independent of the future enhanced value of nil the land to be sold at some future fiine m the Fifzherhert district. lam not going to speculate as to what the area really is, you must -know -better than I can possibly do, but one thing I do know/vizrr that our settlement must soon spread rapidly -in that direction, and the time is not far distant when thousands of inhabitants will be Found m what has been up to the present, termed uului-ky Fitzherbert. In writing as I h.ive now done, my object simply is, to try and get justice (m a small measure) done towards the present settlers, and to those who will certainly nocome settlers m this most valuable block of land. If you at any fulu.r e time require any

information respecting the bridge, I ihall feel only too happy to supply it. Hoping this communication will meet with ths success it certainly deserves from the Government, I have the honor to remain, Dear S:r, Your most obedient servant Jambs Linton, Mayor. J. Holdsworth Esq., Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington.