To the Editor of the Marlborough Press.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 10, 9 March 1860, Page 3

To the Editor of the Marlborough Press.

Sir—ln your leader of last week, you refer to the “noble Romans” as road makers, and I presume had we taken their example, we should have been in a very different position as to our “ Roads and Bridges.” Where will be the remains of our public works when “posterity” shall be called on to record the deeds of the first settlers in New Zealand ? Will they call us noble, or will they admire our selfishness, which we must confess is our governing passion ? Where can I more strongly illustrate this principle than to refer you and posterity to the Waitohi read ? To attempt a detailed description of the many blunders committed on that line of road from first to last, would be too much for you or me even to attempt; but I would request of you and all public men to go and see, and judge for yourselves; and as the latter end of it will, no doubt, become a subject of enquiry with the first Provincial Council, I shall refrain from saying anything more on the subject, as I might lose my temper, and perhaps my liberty; however, sir, I must say that my opinion is this, that from all I have seen tho principal object has been to keep that

magnificent harbour shut up for selfish purposes, and this is the most charitable construction I can put on the whole affair, for I cannot allow myself to think that men, possessed of common sense, could have so contrived to manage matters to produce such results.

I trust the Marlborough Council will see the propriety of immediately reforming the whole line of road, and where necessary for the safety of passengers, altering the line, as well as building a bridge over the Wairau river, where there is an excellent site immediately below Mr. Gouland’s old bouse, and where I believe two good truss piers, well supported with strong piles, would support a bridge ; but even if pontoons be requisite, this ought to be done immediately. There may be a better site found, but I must confess when I saw that one, I really lost my temper, and retired from the field in perfect disgust to think so many difficulties had been raised as to bridging the Wairau. A. bridge over the Spring Greek would open the whole plain to this bridge, and were a road made from the Kaituna to Massacre-hill, it would be of great importance for the safety of passengers, and open a great deal of valuable land at present utterly useless. I believe also this road might be extended to the sea, either by the hills or the river, and on to Port Underwood aud to Waitohi, via Waikawa; of course, this would necessarily be only a bridle track, unless tlic part between the Kaituna and Tua Marina, which might be made a good bridle track, and named a dray road; at all events where the side cuttings are requisite, the line ought to be laid out, so as to be made a dray road by simply widening it.

Neither time nor space will allow me to refer to the projected Picton Bailway, and as it is more a national than a local matter, I shall return to it by itself: but let all energy be directed to get one thing done first, and the others will follow; let us not be deceived, like children, with a gilded toy. I am, &e., Philanthropos.