KIRITEHERE-MOEATOA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 560, 19 April 1913, Page 5

KIRITEHERE-MOEATOA.

URGENT ROAD REQUIREMENTS, Own Correspondent.

It is generally conceded by all thoughtful men that good roads are a necessity in country districts, and yet, in spite of this oft-repeated truism tha work of roading country districts pro gress at a shamefully slow rate. Roads are the arteries of trade, and it is the first duty of every citizen to see that good roads, telephone and mail service, connects his town with the country surrounding it. We particularly wish to impress upon tha townspeople of Te Kuiti the neecssity of improving means of communication between their town and the coast. The country is all settled, and covered with herds of sheep and cattle, and yet the stqte of the roads is in such a primitive conditon as to make . stock and vehicular traffic almost impossible during the winter months, at the Mangaohae end at least. Between Te Kuiti and Mangaohae the road is sufficiently wide for vehicles, but beynod that point, at the time of writing, it is a thing of sheds and patches, a few chains of wide road .connected together by means of a bridle track. This state of things exist between Pomerangi and Mangaohae, a distance of about six miles. Between Pomerangi and Moeatoa, though a decent road, except for three unbridged creeks, connects the latter place with Marokopa, the road rapidly becomes a mere hog track along which even the sagacious and wary pack hurse walks with circumspection. It is only a couple of feet wide in places, overgrown with scrub, and in an utter state of neglect, although with the expenditure of even a moderate grant —aa grants go elsewhere! —could be made into a fine coach road, and open up tourist and ordinary traffic from Te Kuiti to Marokopa. The townspeople of To Kuiti should render as every assistance in this matter. It would be the means uf starting a tri-weekly mail coach sravice from Te Kuiti to tha coast, and all that implies. It would unite interests and extend trade.

Marokopa would blossom as a rose under the genial influence of better means of communication with the outside world, and the excellent board inghouse accommodation to he found there would be extended, and jaded city folk could enjoy river boating and surf bathing which are to be had "down in the city." But to return. We never see the resident engineer in these parts, and the call of duty is not apparently insistent enough to call him to pay ub a visit. His address is New Plymouth, Taranaki, and he is provided with a salary and a mission to see that settlers' wants are adequately provided for, and in return for these we must ask him, even through Mr C. K. Wilson. M.P., to be a little more senerous in regard to our Te KuitiMain Trunk roads. We ask for what Mr Masses calls a "square deal." We are duly respectful of persons in the matter, and merely wish to convey our meaning in as pleasant a manner as possible, and to the satisfaction of all. With this piouswish to the Civil Service we now proceed. The sum of the matter is that we want better means of communication than those existing at present. Unless something is done immediately to the Mangakokopu-Mangaohae road, which is practically the ,only uncom plated Inik in a vehicular road between Te Kuiti and Marokopa. it will be almost impassable as a road over which to carry the mail. The Te Kuiti-Marokopa telephone line is another matter of vital importance to us, and only about eight miles of country remains to be spanned to bring Te Kuiti into communication direct.

A four-wheeler will shortly be on the road to Fcarrv the Marakopa-Te Kuiti mail as far as Mangaohae. The rest <;f th? jour.iey will be done by packhorse. A few light frosts tiave been reported in this district.