THE WANGANUI BRIDGE.
The people of Wanganui, after waiting more than twelve years for their promised bridge, do not appear likely to get it after all. The reason is stated as follows in the Independent of the 20th inst.
The Provincial Government have taken a very prudent course in reference to the agitation, now going on in Wanganui, for creating that district a County. The cost of the bridge over the Wanganui river has already amounted to a very large sura, and the contract which was entered into the other day for its erection, will impose an additional liability of £ 12,500. If there was any measure before the House for charging any portion of the debt of the provinces to districts separating from them, the Provincial Government would probably not feel itself justified in taking the step it has ; but as there is no such measure, and uo intimation of what the Ministry propose to do in such cases, some prudent course has necessarily to be adopted meanwhile. The Government has accordingly succeeded in inducing the contractor to hold his contract over for three months, so that, at the end of that time, if the Wanganui agitation is successful, the pro vince may be saved the very large expenditure which that contract involves. The uncertainty which is pervading the Ministerial policy is exercising a similar paralysing effect in other,provinces. The sooner the policy of the Government is known—the sooner a sufficient amount of finality has been arrived at—to lead | rovinces to know how to act, the better will it be for the interests of every portion of the colony.
The Advertiser of the 21st denies that the action of the Government has been occasioned by the people of Wanganui seeking to have that dis trict constituted a County ; but on account of want of money: and says —“ We honor the Government for the honest action it has taken in this matter.” We are inclined to' think, bow ever, that the Independent’s account gives the most probable cause.
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Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 86, 24 August 1868, Page 206
Word Count
337THE WANGANUI BRIDGE. Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 86, 24 August 1868, Page 206
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