PAROA ROAD BOARD.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 526, 1 June 1869, Page 3

PAROA ROAD BOARD.

(To the Editor of the Grey River Argus.) Sir,— In Saturday's issue you publish a letter, over the signature of "One Interested," criticising and censuring the above Board for passing the following Resolution r-r-'f That a pack-track four feet wide be made f rom Cock-ajßulla Creek to the Eight-mile township, and that a special yate be levied at once to carry on the work. " The writer states that the mover, Mr Hamilton, who intends extending his tramway to the Cock-a-Bulla, must be, and is, influenced solely by private, not public, considerations, and, by inference, the Board countenances and is a party to ' a piece of gross jobbery. All this is a very serious charge. Let us carefully consider the question on the broad grounds of public utility. 1 have not been in the district during the last six months, and am not in any way interested ; but I know the district and its requirements. It is admitted that a trunk road from Paroa td the Cock-trßulla, with branches to Liverpool Bill's, Eight-mile, Greenstone, &c, is of vital necessity, and should have been completed months ago ; that a good metalled track could not be made under j>4oo per mile, which at present is quite out of the power of the Board ; that a pack-track to Card's lower store could not compete with boats, and therefore of comparatively little value as compared with Mr Hamilton's tramway to the Cock-a-Bulla, which I doubt not will deliver goods there at less than half the present cost, in better condition, and greater convenience to the public. As the said tramway will open the country better than a pack-track, and save the Road Board and County over £4000, which I hope will soon be available for less important but still necessary public tracks or veins to said trunk line, I consider that the Board could not do less than make the track to the Eight-mile, and, I think, ought to do a great deal more. Let us consider tramways v bridle tracks and dray roads. As regards their merits as public means of opening up the County, all are agreed that public necessity requires at leant a good metalled bridle track — dray roads being beyond our means — to and through all our mining centres, which, through the bush, costs at least £350 per mile, and requires maintenance. The carriage of goods on the said track (packing) is very expensive, and is not desirable, if any other were available. Tramways can in most places in this district be made at less expense than good dray roads, and worked with much greater expedition, and a great saving of motive power. There is no question that, next to railways, tramways are the most economical and best- roads for opening up

a new country, and developing its resources ; and as it is not desirable that Governments should have to do with working such undertakings, every facility and encouragement should be given to private parties undertaking them. Seeing that tramways can be used as bridle tracks, and having other very great advantages, would it not be true policy and economy fur our County and Road Boards to subsidise tramways or railways to the extent of the cost of a bridle track, under certain conditions, such as — to be kept in good order and condition ; free, as a bridle track ; goods to be carried at low rates ; and every facility be given to the public for the due development of the district. In conclusion, I beg leave to suggest to the Paroa Road Board the advisabi'ity of their negotiating with Mr Hamilton for the extension of his line to the Eight-mile and the Greenstone. I doubt not Mr Hamilton would be dispc sjd to do so for and in consideration of the Board subsidising him to the extent of the cost of a metalled bridle track from Paroa, which would be the best investment the Board has yet made. — I am, &c, One Not Interested.