A ROADING DIFFICULTY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 644, 18 February 1914, Page 4

A ROADING DIFFICULTY.

Judging from applications which come before the Courty Council from time to time there is apparently grave, danger of somewhat serious consi quencee arising from a misapprehs nsion on the part of settlerß with respect to the closing of old native tracks. It is quite natural that settlers who have taken up native land should regard the track, which has been commonly used by all and sundry, as a means of access, and disallusionment only comes when the surrounding lands are taken up and the track 9 fenced off. This haß occurred in several instances within the past few years and these examples of the'inadequacy of the reading provi lions as relating to native owned land a should be carefully noted. The burdens of the settler! have been added to immeasurably in this manner; while the difficulties of the local authority in maintaining a scheme of roading best calculated to serve the whole district are blbo multiplied. Only by the settlers co-operating heartily and assisting each other cart the position be remedied, and by tbis means the present evil will gradually be overcome. In Bucb cases, moreover, a claim on the Government undoubtedly exists. In connection with European lands such conditions are not allowed to be created and that steps are being taken in respect to native land 3 to prevent the recurrence of the evil is a clear indication that the Government was in error in allowing the conditions to be set up. The anomalies and cases of hardship which are continually being disclosed in this district in connection with roading point with everincreasing force to the necessity for a general roading scheme on lines which have been repeatedly advocated in these columns.