ANOTHER GROWL OVER ROADS

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 226, 15 September 1905, Page 2

ANOTHER GROWL OVER ROADS

(io the editor.) g lß| —That road question ia a pretty tough one, and will Htand one more worrying. I would like to know why various works are not being proceeded with, viz., Te Awaroa-Mahoe road, for which arrangements had been made to carry on another contract, but I am creditably informed it has since been cancelled, aho the Oparau Pirongia road, on which a contract was under way, but the men baye now left, c ,oeequantly the contract is not c implete. Have the Government already com menced to mark time ? or are they waiting for assurance of political support ? or is the trouble a local one, the -carcity of men ? If the latter I will drop the role of captious growler and assume that of advisor pro. tern.—giving advice ir cheap, and well it is so, as large quantities are wasted. Now, [my advise is: Ist. That road work ! should be prepared tor letting when [ the busbf.lling contracts are com ; pleted, about the end of November’; : the bushmen are then looking for i a luething to do until te.d sowing and telling tgain comes on. 2nd. The ' weather will then permit of masses of Limber and rubbish being removed by fire, in place of the axe and strenuous manual labour. 3rd. At this period you shift the maximum of earth with the minimum amount of water (how is that for a scientific phrase, Mr Editor ?) 4th. To ensure a continuity of labour; the saitler when be cjn templates felling a large area of bush makes provision to get labour from outside, knowing that it is restricted I in the district owing to ths above i cause, that is, want pf work between i the bushfelling seasons. For the above several reasons I advise road • construction in the summer mining. Methinks I hear some carping cri.ic mutter, “ What concern is this of ‘ Growler’s.’ ” Well, lam interested; I hops to stay here more than a few days. These roads I often use and desire to see in the best interest-? of all concerned that twenty shillings worth of work is done for one pound, which is impossible, even with the most able management, under the present system of trying to prosecute road works during the winter months. How is this for a little joke ? 1 was told the other day that some timber had been cut and stacked close, embedded in mud, at a bridge site not 100 miles from Kawhia, where it lay for over 12 months. The settlers anxious ter this bridge jogged their member, who in turn pinched the Minister, who wired to the effect that the department wero waiting until the timber was seasoned ’ The humour will be very apparent to timber men and builders. —Yours, etc., GROWLER.