The Kumara Times. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1877.

Kumara Times, Issue 287, 5 September 1877, Page 2

The Kumara Times. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1877.

The letter of our correspondent, '' J. D. T," which appeared in yesterday's Times, takes Mr .Sandle to task for saying that the people of Dillman's Town were averse to having a road constructed to Kumara. Mr Sandle,

no doubt, was led to use the remark by the numerous objections, and clainig for compensation, which have been put forward by persons, miners and others, whose private interests have, in their es timation, been threatened by the pro. posed routes for the road which have been discussed. It is now five months since the question of making a dray road between ELumara and Dillman's Town was first brought before the Arahnra Road Board, and as yet the road does not exist even on paper. The Board has appointed committees, and the Clerk has made surveys, but the project appears to be as far as ever from accomplishment. That difficulties,, perhaps vexatious ones, have been urjair against the routes cannot be denied, but, as our correspondent points out, those difficulties have not been urged by the people, of Dillman's Town. To tell the truth, the wonder to us has been that the Dillman's people nave not long ago protested against the delays which have arisen. They number their thousands, and the only public means of communication •with Kumara, and through Kumara with Greyniouth and Hokitika, is a track, the condition of which sometimes is not untruthfully described as "not fit for a pack horse to travel on, much less passengers on a dark night," Though the Road Board can justly plead that the delay in the construction of the road has been none of their seeking, yet we cannot but think that they should have shown more vigour in their dealing with the question. If the 'miners positively object to the road crossing their claims, or the compensation demanded is absurdly extortionate, we think the suggestion of our correspondent might be acted upon. Let the Board take the present track and widen it. The County Council has sanctioned the expenditure of £2OO upon it. We admit at once that the track is about the worst that could be selected, but if it is a case of" Hobson's choice" there is nothing to be done but to accept the situation. It is becoming intolerable to the thousands at Diliman's that no action should be taken to ameliorate their'condition in the matter of roads. The substantial structures they are erecting prove them to be determined to make their homes here for a considerable time, and it is not fair to them that they should be any longer subjected to avoidable inconvenience.