THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND "Verie sans peur." WANGANUI, Nov. 14, 1861.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 268, 14 November 1861, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND "Verie sans peur." WANGANUI, Nov. 14, 1861.

.Atlength thereseems gome prospect of our communication with the South bemg placed in a more satisfactory position'. His Honor the Superintendent has,during his ..visit, shewn the utmost desire to .forward the reasonable wishes of the settlers with the utmost possible speed : and while here; has done towards this as much as lay in his power without communicating with the officials in Wellington; With respect , to the. Wanganui ferry, arrangements; have been made- with the Bench of Magistrates, to have it. improved. The rates- ■ are to ■ be slightly raised, in return for which, and on the condition of their receiving a two ..years’ lease, the ferrymen are to make convenient-.. .approaches, and to put a smaller punt on the river,, so that no unnecessary delay may occur in transporting goods and cattle, as is occasioned frequently by the difficulty in handling . the; large ipunti at present in use, when the freight is so small as not to require it. Other improvements in the communication are to he made, ; but in the meantime they are scarcely so definitely fixed on as to allow of more particular mention. The Superintendent > while here received two new tenders for the building of the Waugaehu bridge which, however, be considers too high ; and tenders are again advertised for,'; on different terms from those first offered, the dif.ferencerbeing that. the : contractor will have the timber laid down to his hand, so; that lie does not need to hesitate from the risk incurred in carting the materials* from the- uncertainty c as to the state of the. rpads. 'lt is hoped that this simplifying of;the duties of the wiff induce -more. .reasonable- tenders. ' It is intended to use; the timber lying at Hangitiki put; for the ; : Wanganui bridge, for the and thp : ' Superintendent was to endeavour to arrange for its cartage, as he passed-South. It will be gratifying to. travellers on this road to learn-;that the ferry has been taken out of Maori bands, and entrusted to Mr. who is to charge the same rates as were levied; at the Wanganui ferry, before the late alteration ; a punt is also; to be placed on the ferry, towards which the Suhas, given £2O to tHe - .. . . . 'The benefit, arising from-this change will, we trust, be shortlived ; it is to be; hdped that, no long time will elapse before an uhiiiferfupted cbinmuhication is secured by means of the bridge. The i embankment of fhe Wanganui river> his has not meddled with, thinking it better to see how the Committee who have taken the work in’hand, will succeed in their attempt, and being " quite willing; to recommend a supplementary-grant, so soon as.it is ascertained whether the proposed operations will gain ;tbLo;';.,.eSdi.;.-'‘..This is reasonable, as ihe breakwater to be i . thrown out into the river will very soon make ; its effect manifest.; We hope, for the best. . The. plan is on a good principle, though somewhat costly in the execution ; but the application of it proposed is open to ’ddubt. The situation was fixed on. from a supposition that the river was very shallow near , the bank there ; we have been informed.” that this is not the .case,- and: if not, the evils apprehended from the flow of the river against a breakwater constructed there are not; imaginary and at least/make the; , propriety of the; site very doubtful. . Howhope the committee may be found to >haye judged wisely intheir choice, both of the means of,stopping,the;Kyer.. encroachinents, and point’at vdiicff to cqmmence\bperatiqhs. ~y?.ibe subject of the Towi} vEtey served Bis Hbnpr > cannot d^l

• With personally, and 'it:is reseryed ; for settlement, at the next meeting of Council. : ..The Superintendent lias been waited on also , regarding the. vatioris poiiits of interest - as >tq 7 tIM repairs> ; : ' - connected' Witk’the roads in the neighbourhood, and lias met the' wishes of the settlers so far as practicable. r v The benefit to the place denyed” - from a visit of his Honor, make, it highly desirable, that.> such ■ visits should hot be like angels’, so few and far between. We are. aware of the numerous public engagements that may make it difficult for him to find time for such visitation ; but Still, if it is • at all it should not be neglected, | and if it is not pos- . sible, oir perhaps whether or not, it is highly' desirable; that some <one>'ih persojnab commuhicatiqn ; with the Executive, should visit ; bthe district at''least ; "once every three months, to look after the ' and'other means of corii- ' muhicatibh/ ascertain the wishes of the settlers regarding any , matters that fall under the eon- - trol of the Provincial Govern-' *ment, 5 and make provision for their being carried but, to any extent. Such an .arrangement would Work satisfactorily, we think,' both for the Government and the inhabitants of the district; arid it is of s uffi cient importance to justify the ; expenditure attendant lon the Work. »We are- awafe that at present the Sub-Treasiirer does • his best, without fee -or reward, in fulfilling the duties that would properly belong -to such an apf pointment * and it is Well that the lightness of his own proper official: duties has allowed him, and tjiat he has been willing to add to those of district ’Poad .Inspectbr ; but it is desirJ able to have some one to. attend to these matters, responsible for their efficient performance, and in immediate personal communication with the Executive, so 'that promjptness may be secured ; and neither of these conditions ; is fulfilled by , the present arrangement, however satisfactory in-Other: respects it inay be.