The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1866.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1664, 17 April 1866, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1866.

TnE government have'refused to expend the money .-.voted by the Provin- ; cial Council towards the preservation of the town of Kaiapoi from inundation, unlesß the inhabitants will contribute one-third the expense. The people of Kaiapoi have both Buffered and spent largely already, and are naturally indignant at such an answer being-given to their formal application; they have therefore held apubhc meeting, a report of which we gave in full yesterday. An application had been made to the Government first in writing, and had been replied to by the transmission of the Provincial Engineer's reports which as wo gather, asserted that nothing could be done for Kaiapoi except at an expense of some £24,000. The inhabitants did not let the matter rest here. They went by deputation to the Secretary of Public "Works in person, and laid their case before that officer. It was then that, after some discussion, a promise was made and afterwards confirmed to spend the £SOO voted by the Council, if the inhabitants would subscribe onethird the cost of any works done. We are ready to admit that the Executive is not bound to spend money merely because it has been voted by the Council. If they are of opinion, on the best information and advice which they can obtain, that expenditure is unadvisable, they would do wrong to lay cut the money, voted or unvoted. But this was not the case in the present instance. The Government did at first partly plead the opinion of the Provincial Engineer. Had they rested here, they might have been technically justified in doing nothing, and have thrown the blame of all consequences on the shoulders of their responsible officer. But they, gave up this plea, and promised to spend the money on the works asked for by the people of Kaiapoi, but on a new condition altogether—the condition that part of the cost should be raised by voluntary contributions. That is to say, they admitted that the grant was desirable, but refused to give it as it was intended by the Provincial Council. We fear that the Government have no possible excuse, logical or moral, for taking any such course. They admit the necessity of the works at Sneyd's corner, and they cannot deny their responsibility for turning the vote of the Council to the best advantage. It is obvious that the question of time enters into the case to some extent. The Government may not think the present moment the best for beginning the works. But they must remember that preparation should be made for the spring floods; during winter the works should be settling down; and therefore autumn is the time for constructing it, To be of any service, the embankment ought to be undertaken very soon. The most that can be done in the way of delay] is to arrange so that a sufficient portion of the work shall be available for the employment of labour should there be a surplus as there was last winter. A prudent economy would endeavour to serve both objects together. But neither object will be served at all, if the Government persist in their present refusal. We advise the people of Kaiapoi to follow up their claim vigorously; but not to forget that the vote of the Council does not exempt them from the duty of helping themselves, so far as they can reasonably be called upon to do bo.