The Akaroa Mail, FRIDAY, JANUARY 11.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 155, 11 January 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail, FRIDAY, JANUARY 11.

The subject of road-making on the Peninsula, perhaps is an exemplification of *•' the least said soonest mended," but we are glad to notice a step toward reform in the action of the Little River Road Board in the case of the road, which, being part of the Akaroa and Christchurch road, traverses the hills between Ahuriri and Gebbie's Flat. To anyone who has travelled this route, i.e., from Akaroa to Christchurch, or vice versa, it must have been a fruitful source of conjecture, or ridicule, as to the causes which, in the first instance, led to the laying off of the road mentioned in the line which it at present takes. Why the road was not kept to the outside, or foot of the spurs at this particular point will ever be a mystery. Now, however, we are glad to record that the road will be taken round the foot of the spurs, thus saving the rather steep climb of the hills. It is not so much, however, the saving of the labour, or the handiness of metal, that to us is a matter for congratulation. We hail this step as, perhaps, a precedent which may lead to some most necessary alterations in the lines of main roads on the Peninsula, la the early days of colonisation, it is easy to understand that the main object of the settlers was to have a road, let it be what it might, so long as it was an egress to other parts of the district, which, it may be said, was then deemed only worthy of bridle-tracks. The Peninsula, however, has made immense strides toward prosperity, and increased in importance, perhaps, beyond the expectations of the most sanguine, and the means of communication of the early days, though gladly accepted at the time, ceased to, be sufficient for growing requirements. Consequently, bridle-paths and bush-tracks were widened without any idea to future use, but only to suit the present need, and devoid of any attention to gradient, or any thought of a time that might come when the population would increase, and more free and rapid communication be required. Such is the history of the roads 6u the-P.nin-sula, and the remark of the soldier in the Abyssinian war, when told, during one of the. arduous forced marches over the steep ranges of that country, that he was marching over a table-land—" Then the table must be upside down, and I'm walking over the legs of it" may, in a lesser degree, apply to the main roads of the Penin sula. Tne Little River Road Board, then, are to be commended for initiating a reform in the matter of the gradients of; main roads through this district, and we trust that our own Road Boards will follow suit. Where, for instance, can be found a worse laid-out line of road than that from the Head of tho Bay to Akaroa ; or, to come nearer still, from Akaroa to the "Maori Kainga? These are matters which seriously retard the prosperity of Akaroa, inasmuch as they detract from the popularity of any place or district. For this reason, we cannot too strongly condemn the practice which obtains of Surveyors being sent down here to lay off lines of road, or, more correctly, perhaps, it should be said ** pick" up lines of road, without due instructions as to laying off the same. In these days of extended communication and increased traffic, the best gradient should be followed instead of going ••over hill and dale," as we generally