THE MAIN ROAD TO REEFTON.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1093, 29 January 1872, Page 2

THE MAIN ROAD TO REEFTON.

On Saturday night, a large and influential public meeting was held at Gilmer's Hotel, for the purpose of urg.'ng upon the General Government the necessity of constructing the Beven miles of road from Reefton to the Grey Valley, so as to open up commnnication between the Ahaura and Reefton. E. Wiokes, Esq., Mayor, took the chair, and in a f oav remarks called the attion of the meeting to the importance of the subject. Mr M. Kennedy rose to propose the first resolution. He said the meetiug had been called for the purpose of urging upon the Government the necessity for spending the sum of money which was available for connecting the Inangahua Reefs with Greymonth and Westporb by a dray road, and for having the work carried out before the winter months set in. He then read the following resolution:- "That there is at present good means of traffic from Greymouth to within fifteen miles of Heefton, which distance is traversed by a road only available for packing, and it has been ascertained that a route exists of not more than seven miles over a much easier line, which can be made fit for dray traffic at a cost of under L7OOO, which, if constructed, would materially reduce the distance and lessen the cost of carriage at least from L2O to LlO per ton on goods. The present high rate of freight, and the risk of transit, greatly retards the erection of machinery necessary for mining purposes at the Inangahua reefs, and the construction of these seven miles of road would veiy much lessen these difficulties, and would open up a good market to the numerous farmers settled in the Grey Valley, who are at present in great need of a market for their produce. That this meeting urge on. the Government the immediate survey and construction of this portion of the road, and rather than have the work delayed, pledge themselves to pay the cost of suivey, and, if called on, even that of the construction of the road on reasonable terms." The reasonableness of the first part of the resolution was so apparent that it would be superfluous for him to say anything in support of it. The present route from the junction was thirty miles — fifteen miles over a dray track which had been made by a private individual, and for the remaining fifteen miles the goods had to be conveyed by pack-horse. That these last fifteen miles could be reduced to seven was beyond question, for there were persons in that room who could prove that the construction of the road would not cost L7OOO. At present the freight of goods from Greymouth to Reefton was L2O per ton, and the construction of the road would immediately 'reduce it to LlO, With regard to the second portion of the resolution the matter was so important that the residents were determined to proceed with the work at once, and their vote that night would tell the Government that they were determined to put their hands in their pockets rather than that the road should not be constructed. In that case all that was wanted was that the Government should give protection or compensation whenever they thought proper to take it over. If private individuals carried out the woFk it could be finished in six or seven weeks, and they all knew that delay in a work of this sort was calculated to injure the town considerably. If the dray road was made on the Westport side first the traffic here would be injured. All that they asked was that no partiality should be shown to either district by the Government, and in that casfi the residents in this district were quite satisfied that they would receive their full share of the trade of the Inangahua district. Mr P. Guinness, in an able speech, which the arrival of the English mail prevents us from publishing, seconded the motion. Mr J. Ejlgottr said he was glad to come forward that evening and join in the objects of the meeting. Mr Kennedy had stated that if seven miles of road were made, communication could be opened up direct from the Ahaui-a to Reefton, and he could confirm that statement. If the road was not made, there was no doubt that it would entail a great amount of suffering on the miners who, in digging parlance, would be compelled to "do a perish.'' The men had stuck to their claims, and were now about to be rewarded ; and as there was every prospect of a large population settling in thfa district, it was the duty of the inhabitants of Greymouth to press upon the Government the necessity of immediately making the road. They were aware he. had lately visited the reefs, and, in company with Mr Levy and Messrs O'Malley and Jenkins, rode through the new track discovered by the two last-named gentlemen, and in order to test the difference he came back the long route. He might describe the old route as being something like an isosceles triangle, while the new track run straight. Mr Woolley calculated the distance at about six miles, but he thought it would be nearer seven. In his opinion it was ou c of the easiest roads to make that he had seen, and would not cost more than about L7OO per mile. He ascended a well-known tree, called Walsh's Lookout, called after the real prospector of Shiel's reef, and saw the country all round, and a better road r could not be found. Should the seven miles of road be made there would be no difficulty in driving a buggy from the Ahaura to Reefton. This district would be the most important one that had yet been opened up. He had been connected with mining since 1852, and he thought he knew a little about it. They could not go from Reefton to Westpo; ionhorseback, butthey could go up a* far as the Little Groy on a good road, -nd all that was necessary was the seven miles of road, when the connecting link between Greymouth and the .reefs would be established. The district

was; not only neglected in the matter of roads, but also in the matter of accommodation for the miners. The Warden only visited the. district once > a month, and there was not even a Warden's clerk or a policeman to transact the necessary business. He most cordially supported the motion. j • The Chairman tlufir put the motion, which was carried un'autnously. Mr Kilgour moved — "That a committee for communicating the facts of the foregoing resolution to the General Government be appointed, to consist of Messrs Kilgour, Sheedy, Kenrick, Wickes, Fitzgerald, F. Hamilton, Glenn, Levy, Thompson, Gilmer, Masters, Perotti, Griffen, Coates, Maclean, and Guinness ; and the same to be a standing committes till the work is in progress." It was an influential committee, and they should all put their shoulders to the wheel, and not stop till the object was accomplished. He considered the road would be a good speculation, and if the Government were not inclined to make it, he should not object to going into'lt. Mr Woolcock seconded the motion. The Chairman put the motion, which was carried unanimously, and the meeting broke up.