THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1156, 12 April 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1872.

The frequent reference which has of late been made in these columns to the various schemes which are at least feasible for securing the construction of the Arnold and Ah aura Road, or what might reasonably be called " the missing link" in the main line of road to Reef ton, may have rendered the subject unpalatable. Still, we feel that we are compelled, over and over again, to continue dragging the matter before the public until something is done — either until the General or Provincial Government find some means of constructing it, or until both combine to carry out this most useful work. The principal business people in this district have long recognised the fact that, to insure fair competition with Westport for the supply of the Inangahua district, a main road must be made right through from the port ; and after many tvmtings and turnings, after much scheming and devising, a promise of the construction of the road at both sides was obtained. But about the centre of it nothing was done. A better example of the effects of the present system of multiplication of Governments in the Colony could not be found. A main road is wanted to connect a port with an extensive and populous gold-bearing district — one which is sure soon to eclipse anything that has been heard of in New Zealand ; yet it is impossible to saddle the construction of this piece of road on less than three distinct governing bodies ; and even then provision is not made for the complete construction of the road. As it always happens in cases of divided authority, a blank is left in the centre, which, for practical purposes, renders all the work at both ends useless. Starting from Greymouth the General Government construct the road as far as the Omotumotu Creek, from thence the Government of the County of Westland carry it as far as the Arnold River. Then occurs the blank for which no provision has as yet been made, nine miles and a half of road to the Ahaura township, for the construction of which money has often been voted by the Nelson Provincial Council, but which has never been expended, and in consequence of this fostering system of Government the result is now before us that it -may be the cause of very seriously injuring the trade of the port. From the Ahaura to the Mia-Mia a road exists, which is being improved by the General Government, and the same Government is about to complete the road from there to Reefton. A better example of the results of divided authority could not be obtained in the Colony than that of three separate Governments attempting to make one road, and utterly failing by leaving nine miles and a half of a blank in the heart of it. But another phase of the absurdity is the fact that, while the residents here have been scheming for the construction of this piece of road, have interviewed members of both the General and Nelson Provincial Governments on the subject, have even offered to make it at their own cost, if they promised land in return, and have been refused, more than enough of money is lying to the credit of the district, more than sufficient to do this little piece of work, and which will be available whenever some of those formal matters which so hedge in the Government of this country are overcome. It will be remembered that during last session of the Assembly the member for the Grey Valley succeded in carrying a resolution that out of the Province of Nelson's share of LlOO,OOO voted as subsidies for Road Boards, a fixed proportion should be set aside for Road Boards hereafter to be established on the Nelson South-West Gold Fields. These Boards can only be called into existence by the Provincial Council, and as that body meets in about three weeks, and as the Superintendent has again given his distinct pledge to the General Government that he will constitute these bodies at the earliest possible moment, there is still some hope for the completion of the road to the Ahaura before winter. But there is another and much easier and cheaper solution of the difficulty. It is now intended to construct a line of telegraph to Reefton, and as it must pass over the route we have been referring to, tenders have been called by the General Manager for felling the timber and clear- | ing a horse-track along the surveyed line from the bridge site at the Arnold to the bridge site Ahaura, about nine and a half miles in length. All timber is to be felled one chain wide, but only axe high, with the exception of a clearing which is to be made eight feet wide in the centre. Now, with a little combination between the head of the Telegraph Department on behalf of the General Government, and the Nelson Government, these nine miles of road could be made for a trifling amount and completed at once, instead of both pottering at it year after year until

more money is frittered away on it, with little to show in return, than would have made it a good dray road at once, and opened the communication right through from Greymouth to Reefton. It is to be hoped the suggested combination will bo thought of at head-quarters and acted upon, because thereby a large amount of public money will be saved, and the trade of the port will be immensely improved.