The Arrow Observer AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE. Arrowtown, Thursday, Oct. 3, 1878

Lake County Press, Volume VII, Issue 386, 3 October 1878, Page 2

The Arrow Observer AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE. Arrowtown, Thursday, Oct. 3, 1878

The whole country iB, at this moment, filled with a cry of amazement and despair. Thousands have, by the occurrences of the past ten days, had their all swept away. The savings of years have gone, and that through no carelessness or ill-doing of the possessors. And, while individuals have suffered so severely, the country as a whole has lost what it will take years of prosperity to replace. Bridges, roads, railways, and public works of all descriptions have been swept away in the general ruin, and we again find ourselves," in many instances, thrown back to the early times when means of communication were slow and dangerous. But, the damage being done, the question arises, who will repair it? Under the County eystem the loss primarily falls upon the various County Councils, but it is of such mnguitude that they eaf-not, however willing they may be, repair the mischief wrought. If- each County was to empty its coppers there would still be a large amount of reconstruction left untouched, and so a doable loss would be entailed upon the unfortunate settlers who have already lost so much. There is one way out of the present dilemma. The Government must come to the point, and, passing Supplemental j Estimates to no small amount, must aid iu re-erecting the bridges carried away and in re-con-structing the roads destroyed. Such an emergency as this could not, of course, be fores-en, but, now it has arisen, let there be no time lost in ren» deiing assistance in again opening up communication throughout the country. [f the work is left to the Counties the whole trade of the Colony must become paralysed while awaiting the t e-opening of its channels, and distress hitherto unknown will make itself felt in most unpleasant forms. To render prompt assistance will be to assist doubly, and we trust that no scruples for their economical reputation or fear for their positions, will debar the Ministry from at once ascertaining approximately the damage done to public works, and securing a vote for their immediate reconstruction.