Original Correspondence

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 614, 2 June 1882, Page 2

Original Correspondence

We arc at all times ready to give expression to every shade of opinion, but in no case do we hold ourselves responsible for the views advocated by our correspondents.

ROADS,

To the Editor.

Sir, —I see by a report in your paper that Mr Stewart has been interviewing the County Council about getting a road to his seclion. I cannot see that it is the duty of that body to start making roads, but, from what I know of the matter, Mr Stewart and several other owners of land up the Okuto Valley, and on the boundary of the Little River Road Board, where it joins the Akaroa and Wainui district, have been totally ignored in the matter of roads. If the ciy of this particular Road Board is always to be, " Can't do it; no funds," why don't they strike a higher rate, so that they may have funds? I am sure the owners of land which will benefit by joads will have no objection to paying it. Another way of looking at it is this : the railway has been made a certain length, and it is vcy likely that it will soon be brought right up the valley. It will require feeding with timber, posts and rails, firewood, &0., to make it pay, for at pre: sent the passenger traffic will not anything like make it pay, so that the Road Board should see and open out as many roads into these back sections as possible. The settlers living along the main road are all right: they have got good roads fronting on their properties, and so don't trouble themselves much about whether or not t'icir neighbors get an outlet, Well, this is not as it should be, and the ratepayers should see that at the next election men are put in who will take a broader view of the matter, and look beyond their own dominions, whose policy will be the extension of roads and opening up of new country. lam given to undeisland that there is a road from the Hill Top, through Mr Stewart's section, down into the Okute Valley, cleared about three years ago some half chain wide, and since that lime nothing has been done to it; it is at present impassable for horses. All it wants is benching, and why has this not been done? Why spend a sum of money on a road and then leave it utterly impassable ? It is just like starting to build a bridge across a river and stopping in the middle. I know that petition after petition has been presented to the Little River Read Board about having this work done, and it has always been shelved, and other works undertaken which have not been so urgently needed. It seems a monstrous shame rhat any one on horseback (it can be managed on foot) wanting to get to the head of Okuio Val'ey from the H'H Top has to go down through Little River, and then round the reserve, a journey of: some miles, which might bo saved if the read in ques:iou wo.c benched. Hoping before longto see the work in hand—Yours, etc..

HILL TOP,