ALFORD FOREST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 637, 16 May 1882, Page 2

ALFORD FOREST.

[from our own correspondent.] May 11. The weather has been rather stormy of late, rendering the traffic from the Forest slow and laborious. If the members of the Road Board were yoked to a loaded waggon I do believe a fair crowd from our parts would assemble to see how they like ruts deep enough to allow the axle to touch the ground. Yet I cannot conscientiously lay all the blame on their shoulders. I believe that the owners of bush land or tenants should help in the matter —but as I will have occasion to speak on the subject when I finish my article on Alford Forest I will say no more at present. Yet, as it is not too late for the Board to reconsider their decision re formation of a footpath along the tramway reserve road, I cannot but hope that some practical man will point out to the members before their next meeting the uselessness of such a work in a district like ours. A footpath, for a road two chains wide, covered with grass, cut by creeks, etc., means a pleasant walk for cattle. Wo no police here—being orderly sort of folks—but we have lots of unfenced land and broken down fences to make up for it, and that on this very road. For that reason I think that I hit the bull’s eye when I say that a footpath means a cattle walk, and that the same walk will in wet weather be a perfect quagmire, on which no child going to school will be able to walk. The difference in the cost of forming the mile of road and the formation of the footpath is a drop of water in the sea when we take into consideration that the first scheme will be a permanent work, and the last an eye sore for ever after. The Mount Somers and Alford Foxest Young Men’s Improvement Society held a meeting, at the Springburn School, on the 11th instant. It was decided to reopen the meetings on every second Friday at the same place viz., Springburn Schoolroom ; the next meeting to take place on the 19th May, when, no doubt, a large number of members will make their appearance and pay their entrance fee. The business having boon disposed of the members dispersed at a round pace, but it was no use the rain h id the best of it, and the only prize your correspondent gained was a cold.