DISTRICT ROADS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 143, 30 November 1877, Page 2

DISTRICT ROADS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AKAROA MAIL. Sir, — May - I ask if you had been out to dine when you favoured us with your leader of the 13th. inst.; viz. :— " Good roads to almost every bay now intersect the district, and where formerly mere bridle paths of difficult and dangerous ascent or descent wound their tortuous way over the ranges, an easy Xg ra di e nt may now be traversed, with at least some degree of ease and comfort to both man and beast."

'Tis really too bad to be so sarcastic, for surely you don't mean us to accept this glowing description as the outburst of •/ your conclusive reasoning. Did you. try the ride from Little Akaloa to Decanter Bay, from thence to M'lntosh and on to Pigeonßays. I must conclude yor have never favoured this regicn with your presence, or the poetical ardour of your fancy would • be considerably damped, and your belief in Road Boards very much shaken. I apprehend your remarks would be in ajeg's lofty strain if you accompanied the Rev. D. O. Hampton through his missionary district, and I am much mistaken if, on your return, your views of "easy, gradients " were not much modified. In many cases large sums of money have been '.'.' voted for specific roads, but not being, sufficient to carry out the work in its ',■ entirety, to the satisfaction of the Board, they have allowed a portion only of. the work to be completed—in some Gases abruptly.terniinating in a precipice. I see the chairman of the County Council is authorised to hand over to the various Road Boards the grants made for specific . roads ; I hope the public-will seethe roads are completed for the amount, or not begun, saving the ratepayers the vexation of looking at a road without being able to use it. I constantly read in your issues complaints of the way contracts are" let, and I agree with some of the writers in thinking there is ample room for improvement. Members are in many cases elected to the various Boards in an illegal manner. Tis not long since Mr Jebson managed to turn out all the members at Malvern, through loose election, and a little oversight and enquiry would be wise-on the Peninsula. It would also let considerable light on their transactions if accounts were published as by other public I fear I have already trespassed too much on your space, but will revert to this matter in a future letter.—Yours, &c, * M. R. A. fc»