The Chronicle, PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1913. STOCK ROUTE OVER THE TARARUAS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 May 1913, Page 2

The Chronicle, PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1913. STOCK ROUTE OVER THE TARARUAS.

IiEViN Glianiber of Commerce has been moving to have a track opened up across the Tararuas by way of the Maungahao stream. Next summer an exploration party will go uj this stream from Levin and break through in the Northern AVairarapa. Then we shall know definitely whether the proposed track will be feasible as a means of bringing the store stock of the AViiirarapu down to the fattening grounds of this eoast. On the other side of the range there is at present a feeling that the .Shaiuian-Pnhiatua slock route would be a more practicable route than the Levin one. Tn any event, this end of tho district would stand to gain much by the opening up of either track, for the sellingprices of the W.airarapa store stockwill leave an excellent margin of profit between store- and fat-stock values. Prom a settler at Pahiatua we

are in receipt of n re]>ort regard in j: the Pahiatua movement to facilitnt'' construoiion of the stock route i.v n-fly of Shannon. The reports out that a deputation rousi'stiiiy; of >fessrs 0. F. Ranhy and G. Turner, of Kukanui, waited on Mossrs V..

Baucke (president of the Piihiiit.ii:> Progressive Association), J. T). Wilson and W. "Wakemnn. two other members of the Association, yesterday afternoon, with reference to the Mangamaire-Shannon road, which the Association has for some time past been advocating should bo constructed in order to give the settlers a quicker outlet for their stock, particularly for sheep, to the West Coast district. The deputation explained that the settlers at Hiikiinui had been under the impression that the Association w>as working f or soinr other route to the. one they wanted. but they wore assured by the members of the Association that this was not so. A map of the locality, belonging to Mr W. Wakemnn, was inI spected, and the deputation then appeared to be quite satisfied that the Association was working with them for the one object, and stated that the settlers would join forces with the Association and appoint delegates to wait on the Minister for Public Works in conjunction with the Association's deputation, when the Minister visits the district. The deputation stated that the settlers had the support of the Eketahnnn local bodies and all the back country from Alfredton outwards. Mr Ranby pointed out that the required outlet for stock across the ranges would shorten the distance in the driving of stock to Wellington by about thirty miles, and would increase the price of fat sheep by at least Is per head. The length of the road, agitated for. it was stated.

would be about four miles. Mr Wakeman informed tlie deputation that ho had recently interviewed tlio Prime Minister on the subject, and Mr Massey had promised to obtain areport. As a result of the interview, combined notion will nor he taken by Pahiatua, Eketahuna. Alfred ton, and the East Coast settlers, Hnkamii, Mangamaire, and the West Coast, in urging that the rond should be made. The matter on the West Coast is in the hands of the chairman of the Horowhonua County Council and Mr Robertson. M.P. Tho misunderstanding, which bad previously existed among the settlers at Hukanui, was due to the fact that the Pahiatna people termed tho road, "the Manga ma irescribed it as the "Kukanui-Sahnnon road," although the starting point from each sottlement must make for the one saddle, (Baler's saddle) on the range.