The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. TUESDAY, JULY 4, 1885.

Waipawa Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 802, 14 July 1885, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. Published Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. TUESDAY, JULY 4, 1885.

TlllC COUNTY QUESTION. Before tho petitioners for the separation of the Fatangatu, Tamumu, Fparaima, and Porangahau, ridings mako final application to tho Government for the formation of a new county we would submit the following suggestion with the hope that there may yet bo time for them to give tho matter their re consideration. Our suggestion is this. Since it is evident that there are certain districts and ridings in tho Waipawa County, which are dissatisfied with tho present administration of tho. County Council, and as it is clear that an attempt at separation in some shape and at some time, is certain to bo made, why should we not endeavor to make a thoroughly open question of the matter with a view to effecting a division that will bo acceptable to all the ratepayers in the county ? To be plain, the Woodvillc riding lias for some time past been hankering after a separation from Waipawa. The people in it sav they cannot get money or fair play; they complain of tho distance which their member lias to travel and bring forward a whole host of other little grievances which although they are entirely imaginary, will never cease to provide them with an excuse for being discontented. Then there is the Norsewood riding, which believes itself to bo sorely oppressed by tlio

“ Sheep farmers” and moans in chorus with Woodvillc about the inefficiency of tho county administration,. Whilst tin's is going on in the Bush, we hear other ridings such as tho Palangata actually making tlio same complaint of a difficulty in abtaining necessary funds, with this little difference, viz : —that whilst llie Bush blames the “sheep-farmers” for absorbing all tlio county money, the sheep-farmers blame tlio Bush. It is therefore evident as wo have said, that a separation must be the result of this opposition in the count}', and if tho action is taken in a fair spirit and openly it may ho mutually effected. To cut off the four ridings as at present proposed would not bring about a desirable stato oL* things. iSuch a division would merely cut an already long county lengthwise down tlio centre, and leave it longer still. Then, sooner or later the southern portion will separate and tho three ridings of Waipawa, Waipukurau, and ltuataniwha will bo left, a miserable little apology for a county and nothing more. Now to avoid this, and with a view to bringing all this disagreement to an end, we would suggest that the Waipawa, Waipukurau and ltuataniwha Hidings be given an opportunity to join the separation movement, leaving those of Norsewood and Woodville to form a distinct county, togethor with that portion of the Wairarapa East County, which they think it would bo desirable to combine with. In considering tho question, wo need entertain no fears that the Bush people will not support it. Their opinion on the matter has beeu clearly expressed, and upon so many occasions that wo can safely expect them to jump at tho chance of effecting what is evidently a cherished desire and an event that has been long looked forward to. Tho ratepayers in Waipukurau Riding will be certain to approve of a proper division of tho county, because it will be to their interest to be included in the northern portion of it, and also because Mr W. C. Smitli, who is now momber for their riding, and who has presumably some lulluence with tho ratepayers, is so

strongly in favor of tho two Bush Ridings being separated from the open land in the Waipawa County. Eor tho Waipawa people wo need say very little ; they having pretty clearly expressed the feeling which they have on tho matter in tho requisition which appeared in these columns, praying Mr Dillon to moot them “ in fighting trim” on Friday evening. The ltuataniwha ratepayers aro sure to approve of their riding being included in the new county, beeauso tlio same arguments which apply to Waipawa apply to them, whilst tho bare possibility of their being tacked on to Woodville would perhaps frighten them into joining in any proposals wo might bring forward. It is very clear to us that in event of tho suggestion wo have made being supported, the county separation movement would bo a popular one, and would be adopted as being the best mode of dividing tho Waipawa County that can be brought forward. It is not the separation wo are urging ; we aro only anxious to see a judicious division of ridings, if a division is to be made at all. TIIE NGA-AWAPIJRUA BRIDGE DEMONSTRATION. “ God bless ye a’, —consider now, Ye’re unco muekle daut’d.” In all tlio excitement and rejoicing that has recently taken place over the completion of the new bridge at Woodvillo —when everyono vied with his neighbor in making speeches of congratulation suitable to tho auspicious occasion, and when somo hundreds of visitors of all degrees eaino from far and near to see and join in tho festivities and the gaiety ; in the midst of all this not one seems to have remembered that there has beeu an event very much similar and certainly of equal importance to the Woodvillc district —an event which, although it passed by almost unnoticed, is still deserving of ono word in passing remombrance. It is years since Mr H. (hotter known as “ Harry ”) McNeill, completed his arduous task of constructing a bridge over tho Mauawatu River at tho eastern opening of tho Gorge. This bridge was built in the lace of difficulties so immense, that it certainly deserves to bo included in the list of works that have brought credit upon thoso that undertook them and have contributed to the prosperity of the promising settloment in the Bush. Who has forgotten the days when travellers were slung across from one steep bank to the other by means of a tiny cradle and a long slender rope ? Who does not remember the murderous cost of transit that raised llie price of every article of consumption lo double its normal valuer* 'The bridge at onco reduced the cost of living in tho Bush and made it safe,- for all business was then done by way of Foxton and the West ( 'oast and to this day it stands a credit to the contractor and a boon to the settlers. Tho Ministers of Rublio Works who had practicnlly done little towards tiio Awapuura Bridge were cheered loudly, and tho enthusiasm generally ran wild over the latest gift that had been bestowed on the settlers in the Bush, but no one even remembered poor Henry McNeill and his labors—his bridge had no champagne, no crowds, no cheers, but was probably “ declared open” when the first dust} r wagon trundled over it—and not even a passing mention was mado of tho benefit that it had been to tlio settlement. Although not so imposing nor so long, tho construction of the Gorgo bridge was perhaps as trying and difficult as that of tho bridge on tho Masterton Road. 1 n tho early days tho roads were really seas of mud, and tho dainty tracks that now reduce the lmulago of timber to a mininutn were then unknown. Men wore rough and “ tucker” hard to got ; feed for bullocks was scarce, and horses were of little use. And yot tho work was done, and it was done well. No crowds, no champagne, and no cheering ;—but there aro still some who remember Mr McNeill as one of the most capable and upright contractors of the times, and regard the bridge which ho constructed as having contributed more to the success of tlio district than any other that has been or can ho made.