THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1875.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2047, 1 March 1875, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1875.

Although it is satisfactory to some extent that rhe Provincial Secretary of Nelson, during his recent visit to Wellington, arranged with the General Government for the construction of a part <>f the road between Squaretown and the Junction, it, is a pity that while he was about it Mr O'Conor did not aak for the construction of the full length of road between these two places. No doubt the improvement of the road between Squaretown and Horseshoe Bend will be a great boon, but there still remains the dangerous numerous river crossings which in the wet season are often impassable. Our contemporary, the " Inangahua Herald," in its issue of Thursday last, ha 3an article upon thia subject, a few extracts from which we take the liberty of quoting. Speaking of the arrangements made by Mr O'Conor, the '* Herald" says : —

"This is, indeed, good news, as it will be quite competent for tenders to be called for and the work let by the middle of March, when there would still remain two months, previous to the setting in of winter, favorable to outdoor operations — so that we may look forward to one r>f the worst piece? of country for the purpose of wheel traffic hem> made easily passable before the surface of the country is broken up hy the winter rains. There will then remain ahout seven miles of road still to be made in order to complete a good line of communication with the Little Grey Junction, but as thia passes chiefly over beds of gravel and presents a hard solid surface it is a moderately good road, except in times of flood, when traffic is entirely suspended. The worst portions intersect the bush leading to M'Hardie's homestead, and again before reaching the Little Grey, both of which become very bad indeed after a period of rain. The worst portion undoubtedly is the five miles between Sqnaretown and the Horse-shoe Bend, so that it is a source of great satisfaction to those resident in the Inangahua, the farmers of the Grey Valley, and to those engaged in commerce in Greymouth, as well as the carriers, that the object of so much earnest solicitation i 3 so soon to be accomplished. Already the sanction of the Provincial Government has been applied for to issue a contract for the maintenance of the road between Reefton and Squaretown, for the twelve months, commencing the 31st March next, which there is every reason to believe will be granted."

Our contemporary is unaware from what source the money for this work is forthcoming, but we have an idea that itconvs Odt of the sum of «et apart for the construction of roads in the Middle Island by section 10 of the " Immigration and Public Works Act, 1874." By the " Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1874," authority was given to borrow an additional four millions of money for certain purposes defined in a schedule to the Act. In that schedule appears the item : — "For public works to be constructed under ' The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870,' and the Act amending '.he same, on the gold-fields— £so,ooo." This sum, we believe, is what it is estimated the waterworks under construction by the Government will cost over and above the limit of first fixed. By the 10th section of the "Public Works and Immigration Act. 1874," it is provided that a sum of £60,000 jut of the new loan shall be applicable to the construction of roads in the North Island, and a like snm for v either roads or railways as the Governor may direct " in the Middle Island. Mo3t probably the money for the construction of the road from Squaretown to Horseshoe Bend is an advance against Nelson's share of the £60,000. This could not be very much, but we notice that amongst other arrangements made by Mr O'Conor in Wellington is the construction of roads on the West Coast north of the Buller— at West Wanganui and other places. We regret that he did not propose to the Government the completion of through communication be o ween Reefton and Greymouth, but we suppose we ought to be thankful for even small mercies. Mr O'Conor's sympathies are entirely with Westport, the road to which place from Reefton is rapidly progressing. On this subject the " Inangahua Herald " says : — " With Westport we shall have road communication for wheel traffic established not later than September. In point of distance ttm route will possess a slight advantage in connecting with the seaboard over that of Greymouth. There will be fewer dangerous crossings and traffic will be conducted with somewhat less expense, the tolls and bridges being not so numerous on that side. The difference is insufficient, however, to be likely to make itself immediately felt in a perceptible diversion of trade and traffic from Greymouth to Westport. Old established connections are not easily broken, but it will readily be understood that other circumstances may combine to favor the latter. Neglect on the part of the Ahnura Board to maintain the piece of road over which they have control in efficient repair, and delay in carrying out road works between the Little Grey Junction and Devery's Terrace, would assuredly throw the balance in favor of Westport as decisively as the opening of the Grey Saddle road diverted the current of trade from Westport to Greymouth." The action of the ratepayers of the Ahaura district in resisting local taxation is moat suicidal, and shows that they are not only oblivious of the duties and obligations of local self-government, but that they are blind to their own interests. The example set by the Ahaura residents, and those of other Road Board districts, will do more to help the cause of Provincialism than all the arguments of its most strenuous supporters.