Original Correspondence.

Dunstan Times, Issue 200, 24 February 1866, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE " DUNBTAN TIMES." Sir.—Having seen an article in your journal a few weeks ago, urging on the Government the necessity of good roads to and throughout the mining districts of the province, and agreeing with your views therein expressed, I have been looking round to see where, in my humble opinion they are at this time most urgently required. I must in justice give the palm to % the one now in course of construction which is expected to reach Queenstown at some futur" date, and I can only say that the date appears to be very uncertain if the progress of the work during the last twelve months be any criterion. Not having been any distance on it during that space, I took an opportunity offered me a day or two ago to ride as far as the" line of route crosses the Kawarau above the Nevis, and I found the track much in the same state as wher I left it on the last occasion, in fact in statu quo. Having heard a great many individual complaints and a considerable amount of public grumbling anent its non-completion, I bejr that you will spare no efforts in advocating the necessity of its being finished at once. I have lately met men going to Victoria for machinery wherewith to work the quartzreefs in the Lake district (now only in their infancy), who appeared to have a forlorn hope 1 hat tiny would be able to convey their expensive purchases via the Dunstan route on their arrival, but to prevent, mistakes they intend having the machinery made in sections, each section not exceeding a packhorse load, so as to overcome the difficulty of not being able to get a dray through. This course of procedure, I am quite sure, must render the cost of construction greater, and cause the work to be of a lighter character than is consonant with the idea of making poor quartz pay. In the aforesiad claims there are thousands of tons of poor quartz, I am informed such quartz in Victoria would be brought under the operation of the most extensive machinery —quantity being the desideratum in such cases. I have also met quartz-reefers lately arrived from Victoria, proceeding to Skipper's and other places where reefs exist, with a view of speculating in them if they can see a possibility of makin* them pay.

The interest now being excited regarding these quartz-reefs, if judiciously encouraged, will lead to tlie lasting prosperity of the Province, and I can assure the Government that much depends on the proper development of our auriferous wealth. Invercargill has always received the benefits accruing from the shipments and transhipments of all goods for consumption by the population at the Lake district, and will probably continue to do so unless the Government do away with the present suicidal delays, and set about the completion of the road in question in good earnest. I can assure them that if they follow this advice the thanks of the whole mining community will follow their action. Yours, &c, VIATOR. Feb. 11, 1866.