THE REEFTON ROAD.

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

THE REEFTON ROAD.

[to the editor.] Sir— Having lately passed over the new line of road between the Mia-Mia Plain and Reefton, and as I think it may be interesting to your readers to know what sort of road it will be, I will endeavor to give you an idea of it and the advantages it will secure to this district when finished. The road enters the bush about one and a-half miles below Cook's store, and: passes through level country for about four miles, then it goes up sideling:) at a gradient of about 1 in 14 for about half a mile to the Saddle, when it descends at about the same gradient for half a mile, then it passes through level country to Reefton, the distance being a little over seven miles. The bush is to be felled 40ft wide, and cleared 20ft., a ditch to be cut on each side 20ft. apart, and a road to be formed and metalled 12ft. wide in the centre, with passing places every half mile, to be metalled 20ft. for three chains. In short, it will be a very good road, fit for any dray traffic— the natural formation of the country being favorable for it. I have not the slightest doubt that when it is finished it will secure the whole of the Reefton trade to Greymouth and the Grey Valley. There will be a good coach road between the Ahaura and Reefton — it will be about a half-a-day's stage between the two places. I understand that before this short route was discovered by private parties, the Government intended making the road by the present track, which would make it nine miles longer. This, at a rough estimate of L7OO per mile, would add to the cost the sum of L 6300. There is no doubt that the parties who discovered this short route have saved to the country L 6300, besides saving a distance of nine miles of road in this district, which will make a great difference in the price of carriage, and I consider that they are entitled to compensation at the hands of the people or the Government ; but judging from the. treatment that other private parties who' have opened up' the country by making roads at their own private expense and discovered gold fields received at the hands of the Government and business people of this district, they will;->.probably not gain one penny. Although in many instances I have known the business people of this district to present men with testimonials and purses of sovereigns upon retiring with well-lined pockets from the public service, yet in no one instance ' have I known theni to extend a. friendly hand to men who, at their own private expense, have made tracks and opened up gold fields, and to whom they are . indebted for the progress the district has made since it was first settled.: As for i the Government, their aim has always been to thwart private enterprise. ] I am, &c, A Traveller. ( Greymouth, April 11. <