OPEN COLUMN.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 269, 17 April 1886, Page 2

OPEN COLUMN.

Our columns are open to ilie discussion of all matters of public interest, but we are in no way identified with the views of oar correspondents.

ROAD TO OWEN REIpU r •> ' * [TO"THE EDITOR OF THE LYELL TIMES] . Sir,—ln your last issue of the Lyell Times I observed a report of the Owen Reefs district from one of your correspondents, in which attention is drawn to the proposed route for the road to the Reefs, already surveyed, as,a glaring waste of public money, &c. Then the advantages to be delived by constructing a road on the east bank are enumerated. Allow me space enough in your valuable columns to state the true f&cts of the case. We want a road constructed where it will be of some use, and not over an almost impenetrable route, simply and solely for the benefit of one or two individuals. For the last six miles to the Reefs there is uo other route practicable except the oue already surveyed. The point is, whether to continue the rod on down the Owen U'ver or to take it by way of Maggie's Creek to the Bailer road. If the road was taken down the east bank of the Owen there would be two and a-balf miles more of road to make than by taking it the other way ; moreover, as the river is very gorgy, if the east bank is adhered to, there would be a mile and a-half of rockcutting to do, which alone would swallow up all the money already voted, and if the cutting was not made the river would have to be crossed six times ; not only wonld people be hindered from crossing in flood, but. as anyone who is acquainted with this river knows, that as the boitoni is continually shifting the maintenance of the fords would be an endless expense. As regards the Maggie's Creek route, the land on either side of the saddle is flat, with plenty of gravel, but two feet from the surface, the saddle itself is very low. which can be understood from the fact that the slopes both ways do not extend over a distance of half a-mile, aud the steepest grade is but one foot in twelve. As regards the mud mentioned in your correspondent's report, I may say that as the track has been opened but barely six months, and no work of any .kind has been done except* clearing the scrub, everyone knows what a track of that description is at ihe present season of the year, and as for the aliened bogs they are simply three or four blind gullies, the bottoms of which are naturally solt, but haifa-dozeu bundles of fascines in each lias remedied all that. I may say in conclusion that Mr Dartuell, the Engineer for the Nelson Province, has been over both tracks, and I do not suppose that he would have had the Maggie's Creek route surveyed unless he had considered it the best. As regards the alluvial I would not advise many to take advantage of it, or they might find it pretty short commons, half a pennyweight a clay and pretty stiff raking at that. There has been an accommodation house opened lately within call of the miues. Yours &c, Vox I'OPLT.I. Owen Reefs, April 12th, lbb'G.