The Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1880. THE BRIDGE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 71, 15 December 1880, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1880. THE BRIDGE.

Thb Colonial Treasurer has replied to the chairman of the public meeting, held at Normanby on 20th November, to urge upon the Government the necessity of erecting a bridge over the Wain#on«joro, near Norra&nby, as follows ; — " It haa been decided to erect the bridge across the Waingongoro, on the NormanbyManaia road. Kindly inform those interested.—H. A. Atkinsox. To C, E. Gibson, Normanby." We have no hesitation in admitting that this telegram proves that we were in error in snpposing , that it would be necessary to collect Bubscriptioßß from the aettleiß fox this work if it were to be done qniekly. No community need be ashamed of having exhibited a spirit of self-reliance, and even though in this case, the district has been relieved of the necessity of imposing a voluntary >tas, the rowfe proposal to do s& must have shown the Government that some of the new settlers 6tood in great need of the work. The Government has acted wisely in seizing this opportunity, on the eve of the forthcoming sale, of giving an assurance to buyers of land on the -inland side of the Plains that they shall not be cut off from communication with Normanby during the winter monthß. If regarded simply irom^ a salesman's point of view, it is certainly a wise stroke of policy to do so ; and as this point has been repeatedly urged in these columns, it is possible that the authorities may have appreciated the force of an argument | which was intended to demonstrate the monetary advantages which might accrue | to the Treasury by the Government giving a promise to improve the means of access to the land which they are offering : fof sale. It is never safe to predict what

prices land may bring, bui tbere can Toe no doubt that if the next sale pioves as successful as there is reason to believe it will be, the advertisements announcing the speedy completion of the railway to Norraanby and Hawera, the setting aside of bush reserves for timber, the proposed erection oi this hribga, ana li>6 xaeteJl}ȣ of further portions both of the coast and the Mountain roads, must have helped greatly to enhanoe the value of the land in the eyes of purchasers.