THE Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, FEB, 16, 1881. BRIDGING THE MANAWATU.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 117, 16 February 1881, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

WEDNESDA Y, FEB, 16, 1881 . BRIDGING THE MANAWATU.

" Words lira tilings, and^a drop. -pt «k falling like dew upon a thought." products ftmt which makes i ' ; thousands, parhap3 millions think." - -

.c;■ '. ■ •.. .-^ *r- ■—■'■ ■- We are heartily pleased that our remarks upon the bridging -of *he M!anawatu should have elicited commendation from our Correspondents at Woodville and Wai rafapa, '"but" that pleasure is 'very much. heightened by a perusaLof their own sentiments ujion the__matter^ jOf course our Wairarapa Correspondent does not re|e.p;;tq the bridgeTjit the Gorge Ferry — at least, we presume not — but '■: to ' the v n ecessity for a si mi lar structure over the Manavratu on the other- side of the So far, however, from —the different works Wing antagonistic; there is a direct unison between* the two, as by the erection of both, travellers from Palmerston to' the Wairarapa, or "Vice versa, woujdget.rid, of. two obstructions instead of one. The key'nose which we sounded has been bravely taken np : at Woodville and Wairarapa, and as both our Correspondents are men of energy and in in their respective, communities, we feel. sure it -wilX not be allowed to die away. , Palmerston has; vet to, follow suit^ but certainly of all three, the , prbpdsed work would act more^beneficiaily for it, as its-in-terests wodld be 1 protected, and its trade ; largely developed; If the traders of this town do not take Some energetic action; and that without delay, then they are not only' wilfully ignoring tlieir.own interest*,' but will be acting both discourteously. and ungratefully towards the people on tbe other side of the Tarar.ua. Bafiges. The Wdoolville people, have' again and again said' lhey have no community of interest with any otTier town in their Provincial Dis,tridt; they call upon us to open up a tlirect ti-ade with them, and the)' ask qur assistance in procuring the means of that being 'done. Were we : a,ctunted by no" higher motive than selfishness, as the representative or-gaa-:6f Palmerston : it would be our boundon duty to give our earnest efforts to the scheme, and advocate its' being quickly put; into effect. 'Al good customer is knocking at our^ door, and'we will richly deserve to; be bankrupt if we will not open ii to ihim.,. -.The, proposition made ia both our Correspondents' letters is one which, has been our watchwood for vears— AGiTATE, agttatk, agitate, legitimately, but persistently. V%e k,now>o.f no town which o\yes so much to that motto as this Borough of Paltnefaton. Agitation got the improvements leading to the station. M it were not for agitation, Terrace End would not have even a platform. It ' was l 'By 'agitation that Woodville is able t^>' communicate with Palmerston by wire. If pressure had not been, brought to bear upon the G-o---vernment there would be no Police Barrack, and its lock-up would have reWftiwedUsi original fsxw, it is after

years of persistent agitation that we are to get a Court-house, and last of all, if =asß3~had not taken a bold stand, the land sin "Fitzherbert might have been sold, but the bridge would have been lefv/ in a state actually courting destruction, and [ after the n«xt fresh it would form a monument to the wilful imbecility of our rulers. The very admirable letter penned 10 the Commissioner of Crown Lands by his Worship the Mayor, and our expressed determination of warning' iirt'?m3mg ~pTayers "at the a ppr^anhiiig land sale, have' had the desired effect, -and it -is-mora than probable-thafc a bona fide guar.aa.te_e will be_gjv§p .prior t6: the sale that..wliat has been asted" for will be-don'e^ For this the people' of Palmerston may thaht themselves' and the far-sightedness and liberality of Mr. Robbsw-OlEt;^ the worthj^Commissioner of Crown Lands. That gentleman was shrewd enough to grasp the fact so pertinently put forward in Mr. .Linton's letter— thafe by the outlay of £S(JO tho Government could make arecOup of one hundred per cent. There is no official in the service to whom this district — and for aught we know to the con! rary every other— owes a greater debt of gratitude, than the gentleman to whom we have alluded— Mr: JFtoLDswoiTH. / ' Upon every occasion that the settlers pf Manawatu<cbuld' be ibenefitted or '. 'obliged without detriment to^his Department, .Xedtapeism -,was thrown aside, and a letter was sure to meet with a favorable and courteous response. ■ Hitherto the Manawatu Bridge was a matter entirely in the hands of the Public Works — although, of course, we know, it repudiated responsibility — and it if only since the Crown Lands has an interest in it, through the coining sale, that the Government have paid the slightest attention to.it. We feel, convinced that .entirely outside of his we.H-known wish to see justice done in all transactions with his Department, that very powerful motor, self-interest, will have much sway witb the Commissioner.