To the Editor of the Marlborough Press.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 5, 3 February 1860, Page 3

To the Editor of the Marlborough Press.

Sir —I would feel obliged by yotir allowing me a small corner in your paper, for the purpose of drawing attention to a subject of national importance, namely, a grand trunk line of road from one end of the island to the other. I do not propose, in the meantime, a railway, or even a dray road, but a good, safe, and direct bridle or post road. There is, I understand, such a road now established between Otago and Canterbury; and can it not be extended to Picton, Nelson, and Golden Bay, with a branch to the West Coast? As Picton will naturally form the connecting link with the other island, it is, of course, of the greatest importance to centralise our main roads to that place. If the project be judiciously managed, and a bridge constructed over the Wairau river, it will not only join the inhabitants of Picton and Beaverton in the iron grasp of friendship; but become a national work of great importance, (And why not extend it as far as Benwicktown ?) keeping in view, at some future period, its extension, not only to the fertile valleys of the Wairau and its tributaries, but even to the Awatere and the South, via Taylor’s Pass. Not having inspected the road from Waitohi since its completion, I am not in a position to give any detailed account of the difficulties or expense that may be incurred; but the only material engineering' difficulty is the bridge, which is indispensably necessary to complete the route. I shall recur to this subject by itself when I have been over the ground. The extension of the main trunk line from Picton to Nelson is a most important point, so as to centralise the province, as well as the colony. A bridle track can be made from Picton to the Kaituna, via Mahakepawa [Mahakipawa], and thence by the new road through the Pelorus Valley and Mongatapu range to Nelson. This range, with some judicious expenditure, can and ought to be improved; but when it was done it was little more than to solve the question, “ Is it possible ?” I shall return to this subject, and the Pelorus road generally, when it is completed. ' • • There is, however, one thing on this part of the route which I cannot pass over, namely, a bridge over the Pelorus river, where there is an excellent site. No time ought to be lost in getting this done; and if anything does occur which may occasion the loss of life and property, the Nelson Government are culpable, and the heads of departments in particular. The ferry was washed away by the last flood, and the ponderous chain is now dangling there, a monument of their want of judgment and of their folly. There is a good reserve there for a house, and several good men offered themselves, but were refused, or delayed until separation took place. The boat separated from the chain, and started on her way to the capital; but has been arrested, and the Resident Magistrate of the Wairau (much, to his credit) has sent a policeman to get the boat again fixed to the chain, where she will no doubt remain until the next flood. Sr A ferry over the Wairau river ought also to have been erected before the road was opened. I am however, digressing from my subject; but as ’it is for the safety of my fellow beings you will excuse me. Another part of this route, namely, from Picton to the Pelorus, has been very recently talked of, in what may be called a national view, namely, by joining Queen Charlotte Sound and the Pelorus estuary by a canal through Mohikipawa [Mahakipawa]. I must confess that when I first heard of the scheme, I looked on it as visionary; but having since been on the ground, and considered the great extent of land it would open up,, by converting, as it were, the Pelorus estuary into a sound, and connecting the Pelorus district with the magnificent harbour of Picton, I think it de-

serves the immediate attention of those who are interested in the prosperity of the country ; hut this must also be a special case. This, as well as the Picton railway, ought not to be viewed as mercantile speculations, nor even as local roads; they are decidedly national schemes, and will be national benefits. One grand rule is in all great public works—-never let private interest interfere with public good. I believe a report of this end of the route has been furnished by Mr. Grey, of the Post Office, Nelson, to the authorities at Auckland, as far as the Clarence, which can be crossed by a ferry at all times ; and I presume it is possible to cross all the other rivers, but whether there is any serious difficulty on the route, I have not, as yet, had an ■opportunity of ascertaining. However, I expect to have a communication from the veteran colonist and father ot Otago on the subject, so far as relates to the southern portion of the route, who, when I saw him in Nelson, some time ago, ivas quite sanguine ; and I believe, as he said, he had done his share. When furnished with the necessary information, I shall return to the subject in detail. Not having sufficient data before me to enter into the ways and means of the national scheme, nor of any particular part, and as I consider figures without facts dangerous, I shall simply call attention to the subject in general, and return to it in particular as opportunity offers ; and I trust you will favour us with your views on the subject. Let this and all other subjects of public utility be viewed in a practical and unprejudiced sense, endeavouring to combine efficiency with economy, and action without recklessness. And, above all, let them be viewed as really and truly national and public works ; and let no private nor selfish motives induce any one to view them with jaundiced eyes. , , Let us take a lesson from what has happened to Nelson, and show that the inhabitants of Marlborough are not only capable of managing their own local matters, but of forwarding, so far as in their power, any scheme that will benefit all, Nelson not excepted. _ Trusting that separation will produce unity, good feeling, and activity, I am, &c., Philanthrofos.