THE STATE OF THE ROADS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 301, 31 January 1868, Page 3

THE STATE OF THE ROADS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DCNSTAN TIMES. Sir, —In reply to your Leader of the 24. January, I beg to sta f e that the total road damages from floods in the interior district is estimated at Sixty pounds Sterling. Whilst agreeing with you in principle of turning water off roads, (which every roadman knows) I have to state that the Rock and Pillar Roa is damaged by beingploughed into deep fissures on the steep descents by draymen using chain and grip drags, which tear everything before them, rocks, crossings and all. To keep the water out of these ruts is no easy task, preventing such dragsbeing used suggests itself, but this would stop traffic in winter, Have you never seen the plough ing going on ? well, I suppose n<>t, it is not necessary about a Township where no steep hills are. It is reckoned that the Upper Taeri descent has been worn down two feet or so, the full width of the roadway for some distance ; two men have been on the ground since about Ist. January. \ our scheme for economising, looks vorp well on paper, but the practical man asks, How many men would you keep and watch for the heavy rains coming ; how could they be every where at once ; and what about getting across Rivers unfordable for days, and the water running in the new made ruts all the while. I am sure it would be gratifying to the Government to have the next maintenance money expended by, say Uunstan people, and others themselves. One of the roadmen, now in the Dmistan Hospital nearly lost his life in Taeri River, which on account of heavy r .infall was impassable for days. Before the winter conics, a new road will probably be added to the present ones to the Dunstan, so the fears as to being cut off from the outer world seems to me not at all likely to bo realised. The Rock and Pillar Road is in course of repair, and wilj shortly be complete . T am yours, &c. The District Engineer. Cromwell, 25th Jan. ISOS.