A SPECIMEN OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1824, 11 April 1885, Page 2

A SPECIMEN OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Br way of properly exposing the management of tho repairs which have heen, and are still, going on on the hush road to Eotorua, known as tho short cut, we may first remark that the ollieer in charge of those works can scarcely know what he iw about. On more than one occasion, recently, the upper timbers of a bridge have been partly removed, thus entirely stopping horse traffic, and any vehicle or horseman, coming along, had to wait patiently till the carpenters fixed a temporary passage with loose planks. Yesterday, such was the case at the bridge over the Mangawera creek, about 3-\ miles on tho Eotorua side of the Half-way-house, and though the travelling companion of our reporter lead his horse, a very quiet one, safely over the connection formed, pro Urn., our repre_ sentative was not so lucky, as his horse looked with suspicion at the construction, took a false step, and fell amongst the openings hetween the new sleepers, from which it took over an hour to extricate him. It i 3 hardly needed to add that the unfortunate animal was considerably bruised and cut about, being unfit for uae for at least a month. In other parts ofj New Zealand it is duly advertised, by the officer in charge, when a bridge is closed for traffic in order to effect repairs ; but no such thing is done hero. The carpenters cannot be blamed, as they have to put in tlieir time according to their pay. "Wej may add, in conclusion, that there never was a heavier traffic on that road than yesterday, there being four bullock drays, two horse-waggons, several buggies of Europeans, besides over 100 natives, in vehicles and on horse-back, passing on to Ohinemutu. This is certainly a most unsatisfactory state of affairs and requires rectification,