THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1906. KING COUNTRY ROADS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 8, 14 December 1906, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1906. KING COUNTRY ROADS.

Of almost, if not quite, equal importance with the Native Land problem, is the question of roads to the King Country. So much of the prosperity, both individually and collectively, of the district depends upon ready means of access to the railway and markets that it is little to be wondered at if the back-block settler, by reason of his dire need, elevates the question to the position of first importance in his catalogue of absolute necessaries. For to him it is the one thing needful to make his life bearable, from the fact that it offers the means towards making it possible for him to go successfully to combat the many hardships incident to pioneering, and eventually win an honest independence. In another column we publish a letter from the Chairman of the Waitomo County Council, relating to the refusal of the Government to grant the loan and subsidy applied for by the Mairoa people, for the purpose of roading their district. The scheme in question may not have had the approval of all in the district, and possibly could be improved by revision. Nevertheless, that does not affect the real issue and the Department in refusing did not suggest any improvement. The hackneyed cry of the politician, "Show the Government that you are willing to help yourselves, and it will only be too glad to assist," has so often been heard that the settlers may be forgiven for feeling a keen disappointment. This is no party matter, to be used for the purpose of political jobbery or wire pulling, but a subject upon which every dweller in the Rohe Potae can act in unison, irrespective of party or creed. The wants of one are the wants of all, and it is to be hoped that every possible means will be taken to induce the Government to do all in its power to better the existing state of things. Pathetic pictures could be drawn of hardships nobly born, and sufferings silently endured, by our sturdy pioneers. Little wonder that they contrast somewhat bitterly the lot of the townsman with their own. But, altogether apart from comparison and allowing that the countryman is a pioneer from choice, it is surely only reasonable for him to look to the Government to perform its part of the contract, and strive to redeem the pledges so often and so glibly reiterated. From a business point of view the fact of openingland away from the railway and placing settlers thereon, without giving them reasonable access to markets, or means of establishing dairy factories, is simple folly, when, by expending sufficient money on roading, the settlers would be!enabled to work to a profit, and add enormously to the wealth of the country. At present, the Governmental idea of a road seems to be a clay track, good for only the best of the summer months, and absolutely impassable in winter and spring. The main roads are as bad as, if not worse, than the side roads, and for the settlers to attempt to metal the trunk roads is an impossibility. We have a fine class of settlers in the King Country, able and anxious to do even more than their share to make matters bearable, but when they see only sufficient money placed on the Estimates to patch the existing clay roads with more clay, and know that when they ask for a greater amount in order to get metal, they will be told that a large sum has already been expended by the Government on the road in question. And knowing as they do the .total inadequacy of such a system to benefit them, they may be forgiven for condemning the Government and its methods in no unmeasured terms. The present Government has done much towards making it possible for the man of j

small means to go on the land, but so far as the King Country is concerned, all its good work in that direction is nullified by its awful system of roading. Columns could be written denouncing such a state of affairs and every word would be true, but the better plan is surely to unite broadly, and take some concerted action in order to drive home the fact that the life of the district is being throttled, and prosperity driven from our doors on account of departmental short-sight-edness, and the want of ordinary business principles. There is talk of the Councillois resigning in a body as a protest against the existing state of things, and were such a course adopted they would doubtless have the sympathy and support of the. settlers. However, before taking such a step, it would be wise to attempt to devise further means of benefitting the district. "In the multitude of counsels there is wisdom," and it may be there are some sections of the community who hold that the Mairoa proposal was not well devised —they can hardly differ as to the necessity for a betterment of general conditions. Why not call a general meeting, or hold meetings in t the different ridings, and give voice to any propositions likely to be of benefit. Let these propositions be brought before the Council and carefully weighed, so that the feeling of each section can be represented. A plan of action could then be formed on definite lines, and the issues narrowed to embrace only those matters which it was generally admitted the Government should take in hand, and deal with promptly and effectively. Such action would have the weight and support of the entire population, and with suitable delegates sent to Wellington armed with powers to urge the proposals to the uttermost, we might reasonably look for some definite result.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS,

Mr C. R. Vickerman, Resident Engineer for Auckland district, passed through the King Country last week, and returned to Auckland on Monday. When in Te Kuiti Mr Vickerman visited the recently acquired Go-, vernment reserve, and it is to be hoped the outcome will be the early commencement of the proposed public buildings. The freehold of the land is vested in the Government, and a sum of £3OO appeared 011 this year's Estimates for a courthouse at Te Kuiti. In addition to the courthouse it is to be hoped the matter of erecting suitable offices for the various departments, which are, or will be established at Te Kuiti, will be favourably considered. At present the work of the Roads Department is carried on under great and the old building is entirely unsuitable and inadequate for the purpose. _ The departmental work of the district has increased very greatly of recent years, and the same accommodation exists now as in bygone days, when the work was conducted by a very small staff. As it is evidently intended that the Stock, District Roads, Survey and Crown Lands Departments shall be located at Te Kuiti in the near future, good and sufficient accommodation for them is an urgent requirement. While on this subject it may not be amiss to draw attention to the paucity of accommodation at the Te Kuiti post-office. Some time ago, through the efforts of the local Vigilance Committee, an addition of four feet was made to the building; needless to say such an extension was hardly an improvement 011 the old building, and people would have been content to wait a little longer in order to get decent facilities. When the department is again approached for an improvement it is probable the reply will be made that considerable extensions were made only a short time ago. Such paltry methods only tend to bring ridicule on the departmental authorities, and it is to be hoped for their own sake they will awaken to the fact that it is their duty _to cope with the progress of a district. No less than nine different mails have to be made up for outlying districts in the Te Kuiti office, to say nothing of of the local and Auckland mails, and all this work is done in a band-box sort of building, in which it would be impossible to swing the proverbial cat. The work is continually increasing, and in short time the mail matter alone will be sufficient to iill the office to overflowing. If public building are to be erected, a post-office should be among those for first consideration.