THE OHURA ROAD-A PROTEST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 511, 19 May 1909, Page 4

THE OHURA ROAD-A PROTEST.

I Slr ' _ -? ann I_g1_g i 1 wocnt visit to tho Ohm a. I was astonished to tod the loads in a shocking state thus early ,„ tho hunter. Toa person used like myself to good roads, tho sea of mud was positively appal- , months .still to como have rolled bv is to mo moMuwrable. Naturally one sought the cause of such a state of affairs, and to even inquiry tho same reason was given—the milock teams Theto is a numblr 7i t£L « tno road—l saw coven teams ui two da\s- . mostly of six-yoke, and'as they frenuenth travel in company for mutual assistance* their passing creates a >vontaWo slough of despond TEo bullocks injure the',owfnot only by trampling it up into mud, but also by treading down tho sides 'and tho watertables. , Tho Government has just spent several thousands in,pumicing the road, but that ZzLff^J 0 ont of sight, with tho lesnlta of a .low .more thousands lost and Bono before; and, m spito of the expcndituro *L * krg l Tl' tt6 sctt,ora Prophesy that tho road will bo worse this year than ever, owing to tho bullocks. I ' *.T, St T ango i.w i l ? l , Bto ' thoK> is a regulation taking of DullocKms on Qovermnent roads from the .beginning of May to the beginning of NovombS- (strong Bvadence of therr destrnctrveness). Then, how is it that ono finds the bullocks working in &Wor for Roads and Bridges to grant a iood-permrfc, allowing half a ton 'to boTar,ned for each pair of .wheels. It is obvious that such a permit is meant to bo issued on y in cases where horse-traffic is impractic;,,?blo or available, Neither- is, tne caw ■.> B^-Ohnra,,,:mjere ;are- 'plenty/.of horses,;,team,B,;but the Mldck-teama defeat; them in ■:■■-. ; =fint, ; by-cutting'. the prices; .and V,;;second, .by- : cntting,.the' rontis, The horse.my::symnathy::in; tHatvhe'has to the:bullocks, ft re grass : \;;-f«l,merely if the .Bullocks were off ■■'■:. the road 'he could ! m the long run carrr more '•_■:'■;■ tneaply;'"-'-:." .y: '-: : :-:'-■,.;';•■':';■'■ ',■■-■:■ "' '"'v - '.-'■: •'.Now./sir, ;the',Minißter;would hardly'grant .;-,:; these permits ...without the recommendation ~-;, {of some;responsible' It would bo in- ;:;■■••;; tereßting-'to;know:''..who' is" the' VYankee ■ .-, ■: .\patnotj,- :who;thus.'saorifices th©: settlers' and .:; -public money to:the bullockies. r -FurtHer, the -. . regulations are: flagrantly, broken.- VI saw no .'. ; -:;bullock-wao;on.,with.less than two .'tonson/ ':'.■'"; and; some .1 am positive -had 'oyer three. -•■• i ;■:.. ;'am : informed that: there .'is a. shoal' of GovernitCment inspectors, and yet these"breaches are •■;. "allowed.;, It- is a standard .bullocky joko that ■.: ;J ; .they Jiavo'onJy 19cwt..on, when thoy may ,t, ; 'have...anything '-.up-to : fourjtons..... ::'■■■, :':.;, ; ;, The Government 1 is frequently twitted with :•.':''. tho,: hardships ,of the,back-blocks. settler,: but ~','.jas'u>ll.v for not inalcing-roads..'ln this case >«.'-:'the', permit. is allowed, to undo all the good ',:A ; .Uiat.'has ;becn done : by. r tho;.expondituro-of

thousands of pounds of -public''money. There is an element, of'.tragedy,.:'too,. in this connection. , :Last' winterja young fellow had to. bo sent ltd HamUton Hospital'for a seri-ous-operation.: Owing to the stato .of tho roads, he-could not bo ; /taken, out on a vehicle, •: but -had .to bo -carried'out .on a stretcher—a slew process wheira.lifo hangs. in:tbo.balance.' .' .'■' '..;';'"; l.'Sir,-in:6onclusioD, I 'appeal on behalf of settlers, .of whose hardships city ' dwellers have no, conception; for the cessation of those and tho stricter .supervision for, breaches : of tho regulations.'...The inspectors cannot ; be- held blameless, but;in cases aro guilty' of serious neglect of duty.'*—Lain.' : etc;j',.-<-:■:■"■"••■ ''.'.■-: . .:. -.•'-'■. VIATOR; V:M»y-14; :: ...--:-v.--i; : y. v .':; : .^\;; : :.v',;- ~:-;..