ROAD MATTERS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 56, 15 November 1907, Page 3

ROAD MATTERS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,- -As there has been several references in the press of late regarding the Awakino road, I should like to call attention to a few facts about the same. The Government is usually blamed for the bad state of the road, but I think that if the money that has been granted from year to year had been well spent we should have a much better road to-day. On the posters recently issued regarding the Troopers' sections, ballotted for on the 19th September last, it was stated that five miles of road were metalled. There is metal part of the way to the five-mile peg and past it there are a few chains. I should like to know how much this so-called five miles of metal has cost, and also the rest of the few chains of sandstone put on last summer. It would open- some people's eyes if they knew, and, I think, if instead of keeping men on the hill all the winter clearing out the water channels, tenders were called for the work the money]would go much further, and there would be some left to clean out the drains all the way to the ten-mile peg. Instead of that the water channels are blocked up and allowed to remain so all winter. If they were cleaned out with the approach of winter, and kept clean, the Awakino road would not get half as bad as it does ; but as the channels have been this last winter we could not expect anything else because the water cannot get away and just runs on to the road, making it impassible. Now, as the summer is coming and I suppose there will be another grant towards this road, I hope that an early start will be made with the metalling, and that as much will be done as possible. There is plenty of limestone not far from the ten mile peg, and I see no reason why two or three miles could not be done this summer. This would be far better than spending money every winter on ti-tree fascines and other rubbish, which only makes matters worse in the end. Now, sir, it is no good of the Government granting money for this road if it is not spent to the best advantage. It is the settler who has to pay the piper every time, and struggle through the mud as well. Trusting you will find space for this letter in your valuable paper. -I am, etc., OTANAKE.