THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1905. OUR ROADS (1).

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 203, 7 April 1905, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1905. OUR ROADS (1).

Now that the General Election is approaching, it is obvious that we will get some of the promises made by the Seddon Government fulfilled to a small extent. That all that has been promised us will be done is not likely, l but it will be well to agitate ar di endeavour to squeeze the greatest possible amount out of the Government now, for once the election is over there will be little induoeipeHt for those in power to spend'money in a sparsely populated county like Kawhia. We * are upholders of a Liberal Government, and hope that the present one will prove to us that it is a true Liberal Administration, and not only spend what its Ministers 'have promised, but 1 also all that we. ‘are entitled to have ’ spent. The Awaroa settlers presented a statement to Mr Lang, M.H.R,, on his recent visit to that settlement, which, we should imagine, is one of the most glaring cases of neglect on the part of the Government to carry out their portion ci a contract that could be produced in the whole length and breadth of New Zealand—and n this means a great'deal, for we know of many other cases where faith has •e been broken. Five years ago this land was balloted for, and at the time the successful applicants were promised by the Premier himself that they would hqve roads within two years. The settlers went on to tbeir sections and commenced work in earnest, ■ buoyed up with the knowledge ’ that they were to hay® roads within two years, for had not the Premier e himself said so ? Their land was loaded with 8s per acre for reading, 1 which amount has at present accumulated to £l6OO, whilst “ thirds ” to the amount of £*o6 are now due, makS ing a total of £1906 owing (mark this i word) for the construction of roads, Of this amount the sum of £6OO has been expended, whilst another amount has been authorised for expenditure sines December 7th of last year, but so. far no work has been started on 1 the Awaroa road upon which £BOO could be spent. There is something radically wrong somewhere : the Miniter says that the District Read Engineer has been instructed to do so and 1 so ; the District Road Engineer says the District Road Inspector has been i instructed to do so and so; the Dia- i trict Road Inspector says he cannot get the necessary labour. This ex- i cuse and the fact that a number of ' men have recently left the district in 1 search of employment do not ] I agree. Unfortunately, this sort of ' thing is repeatedly carried on, and our I settlers have tc> suffer. How long is this state of affairs to last ? It surely ’ cannot be tolerated much longer, and 1 we are certain that our Awaroa friends will show they resent this . treatment 1 in a practical manner at the first op- < portunity, and it is no wonder consi- 1 dering the shabby manner in which * they have been treated. It is bard 4 when a promised favour is withheld, J but when a section of the community , is denied their just rights strong words i of condemnation are necessary. Th© Awaroa settiers will be isolated for 1 another winter through the fault of * the Government. The timber for the ® bridge over the Waimunga Bridge, cut { at a cost of £lOO, has been stacked on t the site for six months, (yet the work t of erecting the bridge cannot be goae e on with, because the largo sum of £l2 a has not been gflfhted, which is ueces- 8 sary to pay for th© work ! B ap. There is, however, a bright side to the above dismal picture, and that is t , that there is now a prospect of a v County Council being elected without T further delay. The Colonial Secretary F has written asking the best day of the * week for the meetings, whilst a des- t | erfption of the riding boundaries is ti also required. This surely means busi- fl ness. It seems a pity that Kiritehera is not included in the County, and we 11 urge that strong representation* bo made to have it included, as all the g. settlers there are anxious to be in- h eluded in the Kawhia County. When d the County is in working order wa feel !’ certain that, the reads will receive JJ more attention than they do al thepresent time. p . It is stated that the Marokopa River le is to bo the southern boundary of the [j Kawhia County. Does thia mean, in o | spite of allrthe promises of the Govern- is •nent, that the Kawhia Harbour En ™ dowmonts are to ba cut off aud placed P‘ in another county? if we cannot J’J be’nve those in power when they are seeking our votes, what will it be when w they have got them ? m