ROAD-MAKING IN TARANAKI

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 817, 29 August 1870, Page 4

ROAD-MAKING IN TARANAKI

| Taranaki News.J Taranaki readers of the Wellington Independent have been struck with amazement at the following passage which closes an article in the summary of the Independent for Europe, of the 2nd instant: — The roads in the Taranaki province alone are very extensive, as tbey connect Patea, Waihi, Mataitawa (in rear of Mt. Egmont), White Cliffs, and the mountain road to Taupo and Waikato—something like 225 miles of road altogether, at an aggregate cost of £23,000. The Mangawhero-Taupo pack-horse road is about 50 miles, and is a cheap and valuable piece of work from its peculiar position. We rise from the perusal of the correspondence with the conviction that by the formation of these roads we have done more to open the eyes of the natives to their true interests, and to guard against further outbreaks, than ten times the expenditure in the augmentation of any defence force would have done. By letting daylight into the hitherto impenetrable forests, it is to be hoped that a glimmer will soon find its way into the intellects of the native denizens, and be the means of for ever dispelling old antipathies and prejudices ; and we believe that it will do so in a muoh shorter time than may be generally anticipated. The whole tenor of the article, as of all the organs of the Government, which are tuned to the key note set by their leader, is to claim the idea of road-making as a special revelation to the present Ministry, and to ignore the fact that it formed an equally important part of the policy of their predecessors. But we are not going to reargue this stale question with our contemporary, and are content that it and its kindred should discharge their honorable functions of flattery and detraction without interference from us, so long as they confine themselves to general statements and the manufacture of public opinion. We only write to correct a positive mis-statement of fact, which we believe to be more the result of carelessnes and a burning desire to make out a very strong case for the writer's patrons, than of a deliberate intention to deceive.

Any reader not familiar with what has been going on latterly in the North Island would certainly rise from the perusal of the article from which we have quoted, with the full impression that 225 miles of road have been constructed in this Province : in fact a perfect network of roads connecting New Plymouth, not only with Waihi and Patea, but with Mataitawa in rear of Mount Egmont (probably some remote stronghold of the rebels), and also embracing a mountain road to Taupo and the Waikato, in all costing £23,000. This journal has shown no tendency to understate what has actually been effected. We have faithfully chronicled the progress of the coast track, and for that, the Stoney River Bridge, and all other blessings, small or large, we have gi w en due recognition and thanks. Neither do we now wish to place the work executed in this province at anything below its real value, either in money or utility; but in correction of the great mis-apprehensions into which our contemporary may lead unwary readers, we wish to state what really has been done. First, then, there is the thirty-eight miles of coast track between Stoney River and Waingongoro, on which about £1,200 has been spent hitherto. This is not as yet carried through, and it is possible may not be, until the questions we alluded to. are settled. Secondly, there is a bridge of about forty feet span over the Stoney River —a very useful work. The third item of expenditure on roads in this province is the £SOO given by the Government to our Superintendent, nominally to commence the back road behind the mountain to Patea. This has been spent, or is being spent, entirely in a district long since purchased from the natives, and partly occupied,

and not on the commencement of what will no doubt ultimately be the main line to Patea. The only other work done ia the province under the present Government, consists of improvements to a few miles of road near the'camps of the Constabulary—very good and useful no doubt, but in amount, nothing to boast of. If we were to put the money value of the whole together at .£2,500, it would be an ample allowance; and not a single chain of bush road has been opened except a mile or so on the purchased blocks This is not quite so glowing a picture of doings in Taranaki as our contemporary has, we hope unintentionally, drawn; and we trust the Independent will have sufficient regard for the truth to correct the erroneous impression, which partly perhaps from enthusiasm in the cause, and partly from an accidental confusion in the construe tion of a sentence, the article will undoubtedly leave on those who do not know better. By the return mail from England we quite expect to hear that 225 miles of road have been opened chiefly through the bush, in this province and that New Plymouth has been successfully connected with Taupo and the Waikato.