BIRMINGHAM ROADS.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 333, 7 June 1894, Page 2

BIRMINGHAM ROADS.

# As the settlers beyond Birmingham know to their sorrow, the Kimbolton road leading to the new blocks is almost impassable for even horse traffic. To make the road safe for vehicular traffic would cost several hundred pounds and thf responsible body, the Kiwitea County Council, has nothing like the amount required at its disposal for such, purpose and they are consequently unable to give any assistance. A promise was supposed to have been made by the Government that if the £300 recently allotted by them for repairs to this road was insufficient for the work, they would keep the road open for traffic. About half this amount has been spent in metalling portions of the road, but as it was so late in the season before a start was made the drays carting the metal cut up other portions of the road, making it, if possible, worse than before. However, when the recent heavy rain fell the work wj»s stopped and the Engineer has received instructions trom the Chairman of the Council to simply keep the road open for horse traffic, which is being done. We have no doubt the matter will be discussed at the meeting of the Council to be held on the 16th instant and the course to be taken up decided on. The Apiti ward, which embraces this portion of the road, has an overdraft of about £1000 and the only means suggested is for the settlers themselves to con tinue the agitation and compel the Government to give a more substantial assistance. If there is any record of the promise stated to have been made by tlie Government to keep the road open, they would probably fulfil that promise if a representative deputation of settlers waited on them. When the Hon. Mr Reeves visited the district last summer tho roads were in good order and he seamed to think it was only a small matter to keep them open ; if he would visit the district now or later in the season he would probably modify his opinion as to the goodness of the roads, and the little money needed to keep them in even passable condition.