SPECIAL GRANTS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 123, 21 September 1877, Page 2

SPECIAL GRANTS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE AKAROA MAIL.

Sir,—l have not heard that any action has as yet been taken by the proper authorities with respect to the Special Grants for certain Hew tines of road on the Pen=insula. At the meeting, held in Akaroa in the month of Aptil r it was concluded that the work should be undertaken by the different local bodies in the districts, where the money is proposed to be spent. I believe the question of public utility, or public benefit, arising from the construction of roads on the proposed routes, waft, not discussed at the meeting, possibly because it did not happen to occur to any gentleman present, or because it was not pertinent to the object for which the meeting was called. However, to the point. In my opinion there is one of the proposed lines that is open to considerable objection ; I mean from Waianui Pass to the foot of Lake Forsyth, a distance of 8 or 10 miles, or more. This proposed line cannot benefit the district through which it passes—the Little River district—in any possible way, inasmuch as there are no settlers on the line, or ever likely to be ; the country being essentially a sheepgrazing district, and no prospect o£ eyer being anything else. I am under the impression "that the line of road has b£en already surveyed. I remember seeing some thirsty individuals, some time during , last summer or autumn, at the ' Beach Hotel, and I was informed they were surveyors who were employed setting off a road from the foot of the lake over the range, so that the country has, it -would appear, been put to*«ome expense already in the matter. It would be interesting to know whose pet scheme this is, or by whose recommendation the Government have selected this line of country. The proper direction in my opinion would be, from the Waianui Pass down the Okute Valley, passing Messrs Joblin, Reynolds, Buchanan, and others property, and would join the Christchurch and Akaroa main road opposite the little River school. This would be a short cut for the -Waianui people, and would also bring, into profit the' land in the Okute Valley, .which is adapted for dairy farming, and .which is at present almost inaccessible.. t'.am rather surprised at Mr George R. Joblin, , who Was present at the meeting in April, and who is interested, not mentioning the matter; but then, as reported in the Mail, he only went to listen, though the same report <oca on to say, that he talked about apes and

evolutionists until it occurred to the chair*#nian that the meeting had not met to discuss the Darwinian theory.. I have res- • pectfully to suggest that what I have pointed out is, I think, worthy of consideration ; and, if it is not too late, an effort be made by those interested to have the road diverted in the way I have indicated. I should imagine that if the question was. brought under the notice of the member for the district, Mr. Montgomery, he might possibly be able to succeed in getting the line altered; at any rate I think it is worth the attention of those immediately interested. I am, &c, AQUA.