ABBOTT'S CREEK, FEATHERSTON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3901, 4 September 1873, Page 2

ABBOTT'S CREEK, FEATHERSTON.

♦ TO THE EDITOR OF THE INDEPENDENT. . Sir — The provincial authorities are de^" termined to persist' in subjecting the public to as much inconvenience as possible, in regard to Abbott's Greek ; but the public themselves are greatly- to be blamed for allowing them to do so. Since the bridge over this creek was washed, away by the flood, every species of traffic, including the mail coach, on the high road between Wellington and the Wairarapa, and vice versa, has been more or less interrupted in rainy times through inability to cross the stream, and the consequent losses — not to' speak of inconvenience ' and anxiety — have been in many instances very considerable. Although complaints on the subject have been repeatedly made at headquarters, no steps have been yet taken to rectify the grievance. The Government engineer who superintended the construction of the Ruamahunga bridge, has been aware of these detentions ever since they begun to take place, and should have suggested to his superior officer long ago the propriety of replacing the old bridge by a new one ; especially as the cost of the structure would not amount to a large sum. There are no less than four tolls between the metropolis and Wairarapa — a distance of not more than forty-five miles — so that the money raised thereby is an item of sufficient magnitude to entitle the community to uninterrupted communication between both places. From Monday last, two flocks of sheep, belonging respectively to Messrs Gear and, Barber, butchers, of Wellington, have been de- 1 tamed on the Featherston side of the creek, and ; are likely enough to be kept there for several days hence, as the weather is still very wet, with little prospect of its clearing up. Now, when it is taken into consideration that these sheep would have reached town yesterday (Wednesday) had they been able' to cross the creek, the want of a bridge must at once appear to be indispensably necessary. Hoping the injustice complained of will be speedily obviated in the way indicated. — I am, &c, A. Drover. Featherston; 28th August.