CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1927, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

SOUTH WESTLAND DIFFERENCES

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —While speaking to his motion at the last Council meeting, re roading matters in this district, latterly under discussion in your paper, Or Donovan quoted some very doubtful facts. It seems that practically all his fellow councillors believed the information supplied to them by Cr Donovan regarding tlie new route as it is evident by their supporting remarks they have no personal knowledge of the locality. In comparing the Wataroa Gorge Road crossing with the ford at Dry Creek, Cr Donovan stated that ninety per cent of the cattle from south crossed the Wataroa River at the Dry Creek ford. This is altogether wrong, as ninety per cent of the cattle never leave the Main South road and cross by the Wataroa Bridge. As to his remarks about our having four roads to our mill we only know of one. And furthermore we bore the cost of forming, etc., of one and a-half miles of this road with the County Council on a £ for £ basis so as to enable us to have motor transport to our mill. In any case ours is an industry in the district and is deserving of consideration as regards roads transport should we be able to secure any.

The paradoxial attitude of the Wataroa and Harihari settlers towards the proposed new route did seem rathei bewildering. But when it is understood that when the support of the Harihari settlers was solicited they were led to believe that the Wataroa people were desirous of having the route opened. Imagine their chagrin when it was made to appear that the suggestion for the opening of the route came from them. Your paper has pointed out that the County Council met the wishes of the Farmers’ Union here by not tampering with the Waitangi grants. This was right to a degree but they also made a special point of the proposal for duplicating our roading system here, it being unwarranted. It is to be hoped that the protests voiced by the Farmers’ Union here will not go unnoted by the Government officials and that fullest enquiries will he made before any money is expended. Should this he so it will be felt that much has been achieved, and that a plan for squandering of public money has been frustrated. I am, etc.. 1). DENNEHY. Matainui, Oct. Bth, 1927.