THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN. TUESDAY, JUNE 9. 1868

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 3

THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN. TUESDAY, JUNE 9. 1868

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

Whatever difference of opinion may exist as to the relative merits of the Land Policy of the present Government and that of the Opposition, there can be no dispute as to the total inadequacy of the programme of the Reid Administration to meet the wants of the outlying districts, so far as Public Works are concerned. It is somewhat surprising that a Cabinet, composed entirely of members from country districts, should have seriously proposed to put a stop to, and practically ignore, those very matters which, more than any others, are supposed to be immediately bene ficial to rural constituencies. i . There are some things whicn the Government of a country must do for districts yielding revenue, at whatever cost; and in such circumstances it is utterly wrong and absurd to talk of abandoning expenditure on public works. The opening up of the great lines of communication, by means of passable roads and bridges, is absolutely essential to the proper governing of the country; and no power on earth will stop the downfall of Provincialism, if that—its true mission—be abandoned. ...

The letter of His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, in reply to a number of addresses, under date April 6th, which appeared some time ago in the "Daily Times,” has been published in a New Zealand Gazette Extraordinary. On and after Monday next, the transaction of business at the Custom House will be regulated by Wellington time. The ‘Tuapeka Press" considers "it would be quite impossible to describe in the limits of a local the variety of ingenious ways in which water is made by Mr Acton, at Switzers, to do duty and save labor, and thereby increase the payable nature of the ground which he is working. With about twenty men in his employ, Mr Acton is carrying oh, at all events, one of the largest mining speculations in the Colony; and he is just commencing the formation of a reservoir of gigantic proportions, which will, when completed, enable its proprietor to supply water to the whole of the old Switzers district (known as Welshman’s Gully), at a very reduced rate This enterprise will do Mr Acton infinite credit, and," the “Press” trusts, “will repay him for his pluck and skill. The water stored will cover an area of fifty acres, and will consequently be the largest one in Otago.”