Original Correspondence.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 20, 26 November 1874, Page 5

Original Correspondence.

(To. the Editor of the Clutha Leader )

Sir, — An Engineer will be required to fill up the vacancy caused by Mr Simpson's withdrawal from the Provincial Government Council. This is, therefore, a capital season for the longsuffering people south of the Molyneux to impress upon the Government the vital necessity of employing a man with energy and brains — energy to leave town and see for himself what is required, and brains to enable him to carry out such works as are most needed.

Let us have an engineer who will ar- \ range that road work will be done during the summer months, and not depend upon an inspector alone to have such work passed. The remembrance of the last three or four year's engineering on the main south road between Tokomairiro and the Mataura is heart-breaking. We have seen latterly the fourteen miles between Balclutha and Milton metalled nearly from end to end, in the face of the railroad being nearly completed, and the fact of the road having been in a very fair state before. The road between Balclutha and Clinton on the contrary, has been allowed to remain in its almost impassable state, only a few of the worst places being metalled. A contract at the Popotunoa end was so far carried out as to obstruct travel terribly, large heaps of stone "being allowed to lie on both sides of the road. Whose fault this was, lam unable to say. Further down, a deep cutting, and very extensive embankment near the Mataura are costing money enough to have helped to repair many a weary mile of road, while there was no immediate necessity for so large an undertaking. The Popotunoa Gorge road is now being carried up on the left side of the Waipahi, which is a comfort. The" brains that planned the existing trade would distinguish their owner, if a member of the Alpine Club rather than an engineer. I trust his end was not that of the young man with a banner of a strange device, who cried Excelsior.

My humble opinion, Mr Editor is, that our Provincial Government officials devote too much time to the larger works peculiar to our towns, leaving the country districts to the care of inspectors.

There are goods sheds to be built at Invercargill, and much to be done about Dunedin, of more consequence than mere country roads.

It is the same with other matters. Our Provincial Geologist has so many moa bones to arrange and classify, so many donations to receive in the way of sound eggs and South Sea curios, that the iduseum occupies. all his time, unless some energetic soul tempts him to take a flying geological survey through the Tokomairiro coal district and make a report thereon.

Could we not have a geologist and a capable engineer to deveiope our resources, letting the towns of Dunedin and Invercargill keep their own talent to erect their sheds, and classify the many and various contributions to their museums, which latter office could be profitably filled by a young man from Barnum's 1

I am, (fee, Truthful Jambs.