CORRESPONDENCE,

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 30, 31 January 1877, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE,

[Qur correspondence, column being open, no responsibility can be accepted m respect to opinions expressedby correspondents.]

TO THE EDITOE. Sib,- — The question of separation of 'the North-eastern: portion of the Manawatu County; raised -.-. by your correspondent_" Justitia " and commented on by yourself m your last issue, seems to me to be one that requires to be carefully 1 looked at before entering on it by a petition under tile 14th section of the Counties Act. ? r „ The interests of Palmerston and Feilding are obvious. Sandon and Otaki interests are not also identical with those of Palmerston for getting a a line of road direct to the Hutt railway. If so, how wiU those.- places act on a ■question of getting a>*nain' line of road made from Manawatii -Ferry towards Marton,, thereby opening up the back country ? I would ask if Palmerston and Sandon interests will not be opposed to the development of the back country by a main line of road m that direction ? It seems premature 4o attempt effecting^ a separation of the County until the natural affinities of the localities will show themselves more fully, inasmuch as there has no real question yet come before the Council to test how proposals for main roads would be, received by different sections of the ratepayers of the County. And I take it that the members of the Council will be acting unwisely, to raise a question of separation on such slight grounds as the first trial, of strength "on-- the election of a county chairman and, fixing the county town. Palmerston and Feilding are now m harmony about the county town being m a more central position than Foxton, but let us suppose that separation of the county is effected with the Oroua River for a boundary, 'so as to include Palmerston and Feilding m one county, how then would those districts agree about the Council place of meeting ; and also about, making their main lines of roads P Would Palmerston and Feilding : not be divided about opening up the straight line from the Gorge to Marton, and a straight line of road from Palmerston to the Hutt Railway ? And would not Palmersfori an d Feilding find that they had, by separation only, escaped from bad to worse P Much careful consideration is required before Palmerston should determine on joining any movement for a separation. Foxton interests will be better served m keeping the county together by some show of justice, than the paltry questions as to who is to be -the Chairman and where is to be the place of meeting for the County Council. At present it looks as if those who have .now got into office there are inclined to follow a policy leading to separation. The question for Palmerston to consider will soon be as to Wjhich side ' of the scale she will find it her interest to go m the movement for a separation. The interests of Sandon, Palmerston, and OtaM are identical as regards the main line of road to the Hutt Railway. I am,' &c, Another Outsideb.