Correspondence

Feilding Star, 15 June 1893, Page 2

Correspondence

FARM HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATION ROADS. , TO THE EDITOII OF THE STAII. Sib, — There are several members of the Salisbury Farm Homestead Association residing within the circuit of the Feilding district, and consequently readers of the Star. I therefore ask to insert this letter, drawing attention to a resolution passed at a general meeting of the As* sociation fit Ashurst on January 2nd, 1892. It was proposed and carried unanimously, " That each member be asked to fell one chain wide of the frontage of his section and half tho road line." There wonld then be at least three chains wide of bnsh to burn, and that width would make an opening for the wird, and so give a better chance to have the road lines burnt fairly clean. Several members have had experience of the difficulties of starting in other blocks, mnde worse by bad burns on road lines. Where a narrow strip only is felled, in nine cases oat of ten, a bad burn is the result. There is another reason, this, a financial one. There are 27 miles of road in this block. lam informed on good authority that the difference in cost between working a road .through green bush, or bush that has been felled and burnt, for about six years, is about Jil per chain. Take 27 miles of road at that rate of saving, and a good round sum is the product. It would make a considerable difference to the Road Board, who has to borrow the money, and also to the ratepayers, who strike a rate to provide for its interest. If the Government open up the main road through the block running from Apiti to Norsewood, the bye roads would still be left for the settlers to deal with. If they could see their way to carry out, the proposal em* bodied in the resolution quoted, much good would result, not only in a saving of cost when the roads arc made, but also the present personal convenience of the settlers in getting in and ont of their sections. There is to be no evading Government requirements as to residence. When that becomes compulsory, settlers will have to go i let us hope that in the meantime they will do their best towards opening up the roads for one another. The same remarks might well apply to the Pohangina association, adjoining the Salisbury.— l am, etc,, F. W. Whibley, Secretary Salisbury F.H. Association.