THE TRACK TO THE TEREMAKAU BEACH.

Kumara Times, Issue 888, 5 August 1879, Page 2

THE TRACK TO THE TEREMAKAU BEACH.

[to THE EDITOR;] Sir—lf Messrs Seddon and Sandle ■wish the help of the ratepayers and miners for their new County, they will get the majority of us which is our fate to be situated in this locality known as the Teremakau Beach. We have already lost confidence in the Westland County Council for their promises. Our members in the Council promised us a track when we favoured them with our votes, and went so far as to get it-surveyed, and called for tenders. This track was to be at the Teremakau, from the Kumara and Greymouth Tramway to the beach, distance one mile (more or less). While this work was taken in hand by the Council, the miners were not backwards in encouraging them, as I know there were over 70 acres of land applied for, in ten-acre sections, so that the miners would not be idling away their time in dry weather when they could not wrestle with, boulders for want of Water. There are ratepayer’s and miners who have been here over ten years, and not one penny has ever been spent for their comfort. When this locality was thriving, we applied to the so-called Arahura Road Board for assistance to put a bridge across the lagoon. The cost was £2o ; we subscribed £ls, and asked £lO from the Road Board. The answer was, “ No ■ we cannot do it for want of funds.” The Westland County Council is not one straw better; they make promises that they never intend to fulfil. In November, 1878, they had a track surveyed which was to be gravelled Bft. wide, 4ft, wide Would have answered the same purpose. In November, 1878, over 70 acres of land were sold to the miners, at £2 per acre. And in March, 1879, it was raised to £3 per acre. There was but one application at this price. The land was to be sold at the Land Office, Hokitika; the purchaser was here. The land was bounded on the south and east by a swamp, on the north by the flooded river, on the west by the lagoon and the surf from the sea rolling over into the lagoon. If there had been a track, it would have saved the Receiver of Land Revenue the excuse that the state of the weather prevented the purchaser from coming to town. It was the state of the track, Mr J. G. C,, W.C.C., that prevented the purchaser from showing up. There is another point I wish to touch upon. For a long time there have been two ferries kept on this same river wirhin three-quarters of a mile trom eaeii otner ; ts:n 0"0 at the mouth receives a subsidy of £SO a year from

the Westland County Council, and is our southern neighbour ; the upper ferry* at the tf ram way, receives £2O per annum frdra the Grey Council. If this track was made, travellers and horsemen could walk up to the upper ferry. And as our southern neighbour lives on the Tramway, within half-a-dozen yards from his ferry. ‘ Our northern neighbour’s boat lies within two lengths from his piano. And then our southern neighbour would offer so to Work his ferry for nothing, no doubt his rival would apply for a lease to work his boat, to get rid of the other; And theu the ratepayers' and miners would have no fault to find for not being able to get their produce to Kumara. But as the track stands at present, I strongly hold with Mr Jack’s speech made in the Westland Council Chambers, that “ instead of- the Council encouraging Small farmers, they were driving them away;”; Should yon havO space to insert these few lines, you will confer & favour 1 on your humble Servant, Hans M. Petersen, Ratepayer and Miner; Temrtakau Beach, August 4th, 1879.

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