THE STONEY CREEK BRIDGE.

Manawatu Times, Volume VIII, Issue 250, 1 May 1883, Page 2

THE STONEY CREEK BRIDGE.

Ta~t4? .^TfOß^v Biii,-rr-Tii Saturdays issue of th.c Manaw^tu Tim^s, you had occasion to ehroiVicle an accident qu. the Stonoy Greek ISwctge, owing ta the bad stale of repairs to the byidge m q uesti on. It is a great wonder there are not more cases of the sa.me na.ture, considering the ; cbT&ditibn of the whole of the bridges on the Gorge roa,d.. J^oxv it Yery.unjustt | to the 'settlers to have to. travel over a road m this state. I inay*in.en.tiQii that half the road drains haye '.no', outlets, whatever, .consequently,- m winter, they overflow/ tbe adjacent properties. ' " " , - The County Council is supposed to maintain this road but, as ia well known, spends nothing on it, and naturally enough the settlers, are curious to know what becomes of the rate", Every year the rates are paid, and where do they go to ? In the first place, the road was constructed by- the general government, and since then nothing has been done to it, with the exception cf the expenditure of Government subsidies, to the best of my recollection spent about four years ago. Apparently therefis great neglect, m fact a total absence of supervision of a sufficient character. Considering th,e w.a.y in which that extra and cumbersome pubhc body, the County Council, has rieglecled us, and mismauageci things generally, it is no wonder the public are tired of it, and want to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Another grievance I may mention attributable to the.Caunty Council's blundering,by wMch the settlers are greatfy impeded \n their: business, vie., the leasing of the Gorge Ferry for seven years, which means a loss tc the district of about one. hundred per annum, and the rate biE charges to stand at an unreasonably, high rate for the teroi, of tne.leasev which, means a. great impediment to. the progress of the district generally. - Those are some of the luxuries that accrue from that 'august bodyj tho Qounty Council, which ,ia supi* posed to administer for. the ipaefi,t of the district. I. am, &c, Stonet Creek, Observer. : Stoney Creek, April 28, 1883.