PORTOBELLO. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1709, 23 August 1884, Page 12

PORTOBELLO. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

«... „ August 18: Road Works.— Some two months «go the Portobello Road Board instructed thoir engineer to prepare estimates- and make application undor the Boada and Bridges Construction Act to the Government for £6000, to bo expended on the Beach road. The following ore the particulars :-No. 1. Widening the road from Anderson's Bay to Macandrew'o Bay, £1392 ; sea wall for came, £1600 ; metalling same, £1044. No. 2. Metalling parts of road from Macandrew's Bay to Portobello, 11C0 cubic yards, at a cost of £464. No. 3, the next item ia for renewing Anderson's Bay bridge— £6oo. Nob. 1 and 2 are under section 18 of the Act, and the district requires to find one fourth of the amount only. No. 3is under section 32 of the Act, and tho district muot pay the whole of the amount within 16 years. Thero is little use in venturing an opinion as to whether tho ratepayers will copsent or not to tho expenditure of tho money on the portion of road indicated (which with tho ox ception of No. 2 item, 1b all in North-Eaßt Harbour subdivision), as very HttleiJJ any of the money may be got, as new kingß make, newjawa ; but I would just point out this much, that if the request is granted, it appears to me the Board will bo committed to expend as their share of tho amount something like, with principal and interest, eloso on £2000 for Nos. Land 3 items. Kow tho rate required to pay thio, spread over it may be 15 years, in addition to tho ordinary general rate required for the district otherwise in keeping the roads in order will come pretty heavy on tiro ratepayers of the district. I have no doubt they will ask themselvts the question', Why should some five miles of road at the end nearest to Dunedinito made a first-class road when the other 10 miles Is almost impassable Wbatjpb,— Wa h«|ve had very dirty weather h.«re

during the past eight days — rainy, misty, blowy and cold. .

School Inspection.— l see from tho Daily Times that soi.'-e correspondence has passed in regard to this matter ; and although lam not in a position to state who' her there is ivny truth in what is stated in "Peninsula's ' or " The Portobello Reaident'u " letters as I waa not present at any of the inspections of either of ttio two rchoola in my vicinity viz. Hooper's Ir>let and Porfobello— yet I may state that I have heard a considerable amount of talk about the inspector's conduct. Siill, it appears to me that if any persons win were preswnt Eaw any unwarrantable uonduct of the inspector they are failing in their duty if they do not make it known before the proper tiibunal.