ROAD OBSTRUCTION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 18, 23 July 1887, Page 2

ROAD OBSTRUCTION.

[To the Editob.] Sib, —I would be glad If you would Insert this warning to the public in your widely circulated paper, the Standard. The carelessness of some people in leaving obstructions on the public roach is not any longer to be tolerated. I have seen horses in buggies shy almost across the road and then bolt at the sight of these strange objects. Leaving Ormond for Gisborne I passed, on Mr McKenzie's side of the road, heaps of out bushes, which have been lying there for months unnoticed by either the police or the over-paid engineer. They block up fully ten feet of the road across. A little further on, not far from the same place, bags of either oats or chaff were carelessly thrown, and still further on some timber was thrown from one of the timber drays. Another half mile brought me in sight of a roller, which seemed to terrify my horse, but after dancing round the object for some time he took the bit in his mouth and flew, 1 having no control over him and was only brought up, fortunately, by coming in sight of another object lying near the centre of the road in the shape of a dead sheep that was left on the road by a driver. I thought I should never have reached town, certainly not in time to do business. After a couple of hours on the road I got as far as Herinie's, near Makauri, and there beheld an immense heap of cut poplar branches and so nicely arranged, as one would think, to form a bogy for a horse that was fresh. However it answered admirably : the brute approached it within a hundred yards and then com menoed the light fantastic again, but I was not in tha vehicle thia time, and tying the wheels and grasping the reins tightly, I brought the whip down on hie back, he slightly retaliating by pulling me down on my face. It was anything but fun I oan assure you, and it was only by speaking to him and advancing very slowly that I persuaded him to pass it. I came out another road when I arrived in Gisborne, late for doing office business. Now, Sir, I shall give those owners of that rubbish a week to clear these bogies away and if not, I shall test the case in Court. The roads are for public traffic, but if obstructed by careless people, the latter should be made an example of. Like Poverty Bay all over. The powers that be take no notice until an accident occurs, and then they are all fuss.—l am, &c. Ormond, July 20. Bon Soib,