WEST HARBOR DISTRICT.

Evening Star, Issue 3233, 1 July 1873, Page 3

WEST HARBOR DISTRICT.

To the Editor, Sir,—ln a leading article which appeared in the Star of the 25th inst., you refer to a deputation from the West Harbor Eoad Board, which waited on the Superintendent anent the West Harbor district read. As the facts of the case do not appear to be well known, 1 have taken the liberty of addressing you on the subject. The article referred to makes it appear that the residents of the road district, through their representatives, wished the Government to incur an expenditure for which there was no necessity, but for which I venture to say there is great need. There are a number of persons located down the bay who have to depend on the sale of firewood and dairy produce for a liviug, aud to this class especially the matter is of the greatest importance. It is true we have a railway, but it is equally true that under existing arrangements it is of very little use to us, simply from the want of approaches to it. The district road is in a most unfinished state ; in fact, it is worse now than it was three years ago, owing to the encroachments made on it by the railway. Before the railway was made, there were numerous little jetties running into the bay, fiom which small craft were laden with firewood intended for the Dunedin market. These jetties are no longer available, as communication with the water side has been cut off. Furthermore, the charge made by the Eailway Company for carriage was 18i for a truck which held three cords of wood, at the rate therefore of Cs per cord. The fn ight per boat was 4s per cord, a considerable reduction on the railway rate. As there were no sidings, the truck had to remain on the main line during the time it was being laden—a practice attended with so much risk, that the Company declined to take any more firewood. Thus, you see, that not only wood c-xnnot be convoyed more cheaply by the railway, but absolutely it cannot be conveyed at all. I have nearly 100 cords of wood on ray property, but I cannot get it removed to town for the reason* above stated; and there are many others similarly situated, some of whom gain thvir living by the sale of firewood, and on whom the absence of a road, or other means of cheaply getting their timber away, presses very heavily. Aa to the conveyance of stock, if the Company had the necessary appliances, it might certainly be conveyed to or from Port Chalmers or Dunedin, but to track 3attle at any intermediate point would be out of the question. Trusting that the difficulty will be soon obviated, I am, &c, William Percival. George street, June 29.