Correspondence.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 399, 19 February 1909, Page 2

Correspondence.

F While freely opening our oolmaus for the " Jitjoassion of public znaitter* we do not necessarily identify ourselves with the opinions expressed by correspondents We wish this to be distinctly understood.} NEGLECTED KAWHtA.

(to the ediiob.) Sib,—lb yoar isaue of the sih inst. your correspondent O.C J. wiabes to remind tbe members of the Kswbia Harbour Boat'd that the members repreaenl; the community at large. It te cheerfoil to find some person io tbe 1 county wbo takes an interest in tbe non-raitepayera. In your same issue you inform your readers that the Go vernuMint te expending in tbe county from JJIOOO to £l5OO a month an roads and bridges. Ab this money comes oat of tbe revenae of the coun try, collected masdy tb rough the cas toms, I think non-ratepayers deserve their share of tbe “ loaves and fishes.” Residents and non-residents of Kawhia wonder why the town of that name does no'b progress. How can it progress when there te no person to look after iti interests? I ask you, Mr Editor, is it fair, te it reasonable, te it just that tbe town of Kawbia should

be stiH as difficult of access as it was 25 years ago ? Nay, more so ; for at that time there was a road to Kawhia, bat now there is none. The Governmonef making roads and bonding bridges to tiliew settlers in Kawhia South to reach (he railroad, but what have they done on this side P Absolutely nothing I Ils interest in Ka whia easses at tbe Oparact Ferry, acid at the Oparan side of that. This side of the hurboar was settled many years before Kinuhaku was thought of, yiat Kiuohaku has now in coarse of constraotion a coach road connecting it with the railway. Can any one wliic has a knowledge of this county wy that Kawhia lowu is not being eliminated from the scheme of road formation with the ultimate intention of having tbe town ou the other aide. Hundreds of lona money yoa msy spend on yoar streets and on making roads to mythical Maori townships, but unless Kawhia has a reasonable means of access it most die. While Kawhia residents who require to leave the town mast either watch the tide nine hoars oat of the twelve, or else pay whatever might be demanded by lucky launch owuera, tbe outside public will look askance at year town. Tbe Government holds £40(0, paid to it for Kawhia town seotiona, half of which earn properly spent would make a coach road from here to Oparaa, and enable visitors and ths travelling pub lie to reabh Kawhia without ‘the present cumberriome and costly system of launch connection. Direct road cannection between Kawhia and the railway I woald command to Kawbia residents if they wish the town to prosper. If the Town Board wishes to •how oaase for its existence let tbe members tackle thia matter. County councillors can only sen probable voters, and anyhow one councillor to six is rather a big handieap. Mr Buckingham, when here on Monday aight, informed his audience that although he had travelled the Dominion from the North C.ipe to tho Bluff ho would gija the palm to the road from Oparaa to Kawbia as being absolutely tbe worst be bed ever travelled. We »ro often told that we have a splendid Liuuch service, and so we have, but why should the residents of Kawbia not be entitled to travel by road if they whh ? Monopolies are dangerous. B? it known that ail the inhubi’an’s of Kawhia pay the r quota to tho formation of all roatte, and while Kawhia is left oat" of the ‘ohern* of rwid constr ac i >n 4he resident have just cause to complain. Is (hero no man iu Kawhia prepared to voice the peoples' griev auoea ? Is there no msn ic Kawhia prepared to come forth and os den your io right the wrongs of Kawbiaitos ? If there ia he may rest assur red of the earnest support of ONE OF THEM.