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Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 32, 18 February 1875, Page 5

We have pleasure in congratulating 1 Councillor Dunne on the successful issue cf his proposal to take over the Clutha Bridge as part of the Municipal property. The suggestions advanced in opposition to the proposal have when they come to be fairly considered no real foundation in fact. Suppose for argument sake that within the next two or three years a considerable sum of money— say .£BOO, and that is the maximum estimate we have heard put upon it — the fact still remains that the town would be a gainer to a very large amount. At the present moment the bridge is worth an annual rental of LSOO. At ten years rental and. we contend that is a very moderate estimate, the structure is worth L 5,000. As a .borrowing power or capacity what would that represent in the money, market. In the first place it would be a real security not subject to the manyfluctuations incidental to the rate roll. For argument sake let us apply the point as a personal problem. Is there. a single number of the community jpifc, would hesitate to f accept the fee simple of an estate yielding 1 ;;LSOO per annu,ift on the ground that in a few years; lie woiild be called lipon to disburse-assum

equal to one or at most> two years. rental upon repairs necessary lor maintaining .th&i property. If there is"Tlien~we have 'no delicacy in describing him: as one of those few men. who would sacrifice a birth right for a merle misss of pottage. , The objection is wholly untenable and the Council did right in overruling it. We are also pleased to note the action taken. quoad the police camp. As an architectural question the establishment is a ; disgrace to the place. The fact that it has been permitted to remain so long in its present state is a sure guarantee the authorities had no intention whatever of making a change as long at all events as they could possibly avoid it. Fortunately the proceeding decided upon by the Council will relieve them of that delicacy, and we have in conclusion to impress upon the Municipality the importance of showing no mandling sympathy or undue forbearance in the matter.