The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2256, 30 July 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1870.

It is rather too bad to attribute sinister motives to Mr Reynolds for endeavoring so to frame the legislation of the Colony, as to prepare for a contingency which in his opinion may one day simplify the settlement of the financial relations between the two islands. If Mr Reynolds firmly believes in Separation —and that he does is plain thiough his pressing his resolution, in spite of the obloquy that he knows he must bring upon himself by it —he is justified in looking forward to a time when the justice of the measure will become so manifest as to bring about its realisation. As a mere abstract truth, apart altogether from the question of whether Separation is desirable or undesirable, the conduct of any member is to be commended who, while others are so carried away by enthusiasm in favor of a particular object as to lose sight of others equally‘advantageous, dares to attempt to modify proposals in such a way as to render those objects easier of attainment. Mr Vogel’s resolutions are good. They contemplate supplying wants necessary to the progress and well-being of the Colony. Rut it is possible that good gifts may be so unequally distributed, that one section of a country may reap all the benefit, or more than their share, to the exclusion of the rest. So far as we in the Middle Island are concerned, there is not one of the proposals in Mr Vogel’s budget that could not be secured in far greater profusion had wo the power of expending the revenue raised by ourselves. We have before us a paper laid on the table of the House of Representatives this Session, containing “ Correspond- “ ence relative to the Construction of “ Roads in the North Island.” On the first page is a letter from Mr T. Kelly, M.G.A., to the Hon. Donald M'Lean, the Defence Minister, which contains the following passage, to which the constituencies of the Middle Island would do well to give attention “ As “ the construction of roads into the in- <• terior is one great feature of the “ policy of the present Government, I “ have no doubt that no unnecessary “ time will be lost before the prelimin nary steps are taken to. initiate this “ oreat and important work. Had “one-tenth of the money which has “ been wasted o& unproductive Native “ wars beeu employed in the construc- “ tion of roads penetrating the fast- “ nesses of the interior, the disaster “ which the Colony has suffered during “ the past year would have been ren- “ dered impossible. I hope that Ave “ are entering on a new era as regards “ our dealings with the Native race, “ and Avhile ever ready to punish “ aggression by means of organised “ forces, -that we AVill depend more on •“ the pick and shovel to .conquer and “ hold the country.” Then follows the Report on the “Construction of “ Roads necessary for Military Pur- “ poses awl the E'Metii ion oj Settlement “ in the Province of Turawiki." The roads recommended and tlioir lengths are thus specified :— Paten to AVaiJii, 25 miles ; Coast Road, Wailu to Stony River, 50 miles; Stony River to New Plymouth, 20 miles ; Mountain Road, Waihi to Mataitawa, 40 miles; Waitara to White Cliffs, 20 miles; Road to Waikato and Taupo, 90 miles. That is, for the benefit of the inhabitants of Taranaki—numbering one-tAvelftb of the population of Otago, and con tributing one thirty-fifth to tlie revenue —245 mile# of road are to be made, towards the formation of which Otago will have to pay two-thirds of the cost. It may \>o objected that these roads are not such as 'we in Otago should be satisfied Avith. Granted that they are not suited for heavy traffic, the cost of the labor alone is estimated at £IOO per mile, to Avhich must be added the expense of survey, supervision, and protection of the Avorking parties; and Avlien these are taken into . consideration, the twelvemonths’ work will cost little short of fifty thousand pounds. In different parts of the report explosions similar to the following occur As this line would penetrate the very heart of the country, there is no doubt .that it would be of vast importance as a military work, and would ultimately bo equally important iii extending the settlement of the country, as it would open up a large tract of rich land. At the termination of the mountain road, on the New Plymouth aide, there is a considerable quantity of fwrest land lit for immediate settlement. It is distant about eight miles from the Waitara township, which will at no distant period be the outlet for a large district. Ten thousand acres of this forest land has been awarded to the Puketapu, a hapu of the Ngatiawa Tribe ; and if it could be purchased from them, at say Is per acre, it would be a good policy to give it away along with the adioining land to actual occupiers, on the condition that they made the road along oue-half the length of their frontage at once, and within two years t<j fell and clear the bush on their land abutting on the road to the depth of say five chains, and lay it down in grass before they received a grant. There are numbers of enterprising settlers, both in Taranaki and Nelson, who j would take this land ou these or similar con-

ditious ; and as the actual value of the land to the Government does not exceed 6s per acre, I think it would be exercising a wise discretion to consolidate the settlement of the district, and extend the progress of cultivation, at such a small cost to the revenue.

We ask whether it is reasonable that the settlers of Otago who pay 20s. per acre for their land, or very much more, and have to make their own roads, should be compelled to pay towards forming roads and protecting men who are induced to occupy laud in such risky localities I If land so rich is to be had on such terms, the occupiers can afford to pay for making their own roads and defending themselves. Further, it must be remembered that what we have said relates only to Taranaki, the smallest North Island Province; that, in this estimate of defence, blockhouses and lines of defence are not included. It must not be forgotten that all this outlay does not benefit Otago one fraction of a farthing, but rather tends to raise up competitors with our farmers and graziers in the world’s market ; so that the Middle Island pays for setting up an opposition shop. There are other and even more important encroachments on Southern .Island interests contemplated to which we shall hereafter draw attention ; but were there nothing beyond what we have stated, enough is shown to justify Mr Reynolds, although he stands alone, in advocating Financial or Insular Separation by every means in his power.