The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 407, 9 March 1850, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not ; Let all the ends thou airas't at, be thy Country 5 !, Thy God's, and Truth's. , ... -- ■

"SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1850.

IRoad- Making in the Southern Settlements. Captain Russell's Report on the Military Road now completed between the town of "Wellington and the North-west coast of the Southern Province, (published in the New Munster Government Gazette of the 22nd of Jannary.) merits fuller attention than we were able to bestow upon it in our brief reference to the subject on a former occasion. It is one of those documents to which — when New Zealand shall have attained that importance for which (without unduly speculating on final causes) , we cannot but believe it is des- . tined, when we consider its vast though s»till j imperfectly developed capabilities — the | future historian will refer as illustrating some of the difficulties through which a new country must struggle at almost every step of its onward career, and, at the same time, the success with which judiciously directed and persevering labour is sure, sooner or later, to be , rewarded. | The length of the Report prevents our transferring the whole of it to our columns, but the principal features can be sketched within a I>rief compass. The work was commenced on the Ist May, 1846, with the Poritua road from Hawtry Church to Jackson's Ferry, a distance of above seven miles. This road was about eighteen months in formation. The other portions of the undertaking were the Pauatahanui or Harbour road, and the Horokiwi road, commencing at Pauatahanui Bridge, and ending near Pakakariki, which latter section was completed on the 30th November, 1849, — the total distance being upwards of twenty-four miles, or from Eaiwarra bridge, twenty-nine i miles. Except towards the termination, the work was carried on by military parties, under Captain Russell's general superintendence -, and honourable mention muse in justice be made of the activity, zeal, and good conduct of the parties of the 58th regiment, commanded hy Lieutenant Herbert, Ensign Middleton, aud Lieutenant Garstin, as well as of Captain Russell's own company ; of the party of the 99th, commanded by Lieutenant Elliott ; and of the parties of the 65th, commanded by Lieutenants M'Coy, Turner, and Bazalgette, and Captain Newenham. The native parties employed in the progress of thp undertaking, were under Capt. Newenham, Dr. Turnbull, Mr. Yule, Mr. Compton, and Mr. Mantell. Although the tone of the Report is the very reverse of boastful, the facts which are unavoidably mentioned show the extraordinary difficulties and hardships which the brave men engaged in this enterprise met and triumphed over. The first parties had scarcely began to work, when the attack on Boulcott's farm, when so many men of the 58lh regiment were killed, or Tvounded, rendered it necessary that they should march to their work well armed and accoutred, and work under the protection of sentries and with other precautions against surprise to which the dense forest covering the whole country exposed them. The operations against the insurgent natives necessarily reduced the number of soldiers who could be spared for road-making so low as greatly to retard the execution of the work. The mountain range of the Pouaka and « a gigantic fearure thrown off by this range near Pari Pari,"

enclosing the Horokiwi Valley, presented what a first sight might have been deemed an insupe" rable obstacle to carrying a road through this stronghold ; northward the valley was so narrow andthe rocks so precipitous, that the whole width of the road was cut out of the solid rock ; and until a means of passing was thus excavated, the only way of doing so was through the river, and in afterwards widening the road it was difficult in some places to dispose of the debris without raising the level of the river to that of the road. " Indeed," adds Captain Russell, "it is difficult to conceive greater obstacles than were encountered in forming this road." All these, and various other obstacles were however grappled with and overcome. That the object was worth the effort, great as it was, appears from the results of the work, some of which are — the establishment of more friendly relations between several of the tribes themselves, and between them and the Europeans ; the rendering Porirua, the line of communication between which and Wellington was previously all but impassable, as accessible as any part of England ; and, to quote from the Report, respecting the advantages of the line selected for the North Road, — Ist. Mastery of the country. 2nd. The opening a district then considered much more extensive than it proves, next in value to that of the Hutt, having been laid out in sections and selected by Europeans • 3rd. The opening a road through a previously disturbed district which, avoiding the passing of the mouth of the harbour, and the Fukerua bush, (called by Rangihaeata his back-bone and closed against both Europeans and natives at his pleasure) emerged at a point on the coast beyond the Rocky settlement which was always difficult and sometimes impassable. By this road the settleri are now hastening to take possession of their newly acquired district of Rangitiki, which though distant from Wellington more than a hundred rhiles, is by this road made accessible to drays from this settlement. The remarks which Captain Russull appends to this summary of the advant ges of the road, are so humane, enlightened, and practically judicious that we have much pleasure in copying them : If these advantages alone had been gained in a new country by the expenditure of the money Vfhich has been entrusted to me, I hope they would appear to have been cheaply purchased ; but it has also been one 0f the great means by which the Governor-in-chief has converted disaffected natives into loyal subjects, enabling them to provide themselves with the comforts and necessaries of civilized life, and creating a new demand for our home manufactures likely soon to become general;— furnishing them with cattle, every head of which becomes a security for their good behaviour ; and, in short, affecting so great a change that the Canterbury settlement, the site of which was chosen as being remote from natives, now imports them at great expense to carry on the public works. I If these results of the peaceful expenditure of £20,000 be compared with the costs and results of a more warlike policy, I think it muse appear far easier to civilize than coerce a native race, The total expenditure was £20,410, and the j average cost of the whole line £829 per mile, —a sum which includes every salary, and every item of regular or contingent expenditure connected with the work. The cheapness of the \ line as compared with some other roads, Cap* tain Russell accounts for by the carefulness of the superintendence, which rendered idling lor misapplication of labour impossible ; and | the avoidance of contracts, — for he thinks that in small communities the contract system works badly, the nominal contractor seldom carrying it out, but, " after deducting a large profit, letting the "work to sub-contractors, who, in turn, expect a considerable profit," so that " a vast production of the money intended for the road never reaches it," It is to be be borne in mind, however, that the cost of the line was also materially reduced by the employment of the military, who " receiving one | shilling a day in addition to their other pay and allowances, cost the Colonial Government only half of what Native workmen do, and ( one-third the amount paid to Europeans." But there aie higher than merely financial | reasons for engaging the military in the construction of works of public utility. These [ are well stated by Captain Russell :—: — I conceive it much to be regretted that in new and healthy colonies where labour is so scarce, yet so much required, where piers, wharves, bridges, roads, and public buildings, are so much wanted, yet are unattempted chiefly because the small revenue of a young colony renders their constructidn at the high rate of civil labour impossible ; that from one to two thousand men should continue in idleness, which leads to vice and immorality, when it would be difficult to say which would gain most by their employment, their country, by their instruction in the most important duties of soldiers on service, and by their improved health and conduct ; the colony by the acquisition of such Works as I have alluded to ; or themselves by acquiring habits ! of steady industry, and the means of obtrining a comfortable provision in the colony on leaving the service. In my own Company no less than thirty-two men have obtained leave to purchase their discharge after au average length of service of eight yean' employment on the roads. In conclusion we shall only further remark that the work seems well entitled to the commendation bestowed upon it by the Executive Council of New Munster, when this final Report came j before them, and that we regard the Report itself as a document of much practical value, which may serve as a guide and an encourage- I ment to others who may hereafter be engaged in untertakings similar to that which Captain Russell has conducted with so much energy, ability, and success. While on the subject of roads in the South, we may mention that the Nelson Examiner of the 2nd instant rejoices in the now ascertained fact that, instead of the long qnd difficult jour-

ney of one hundred miles from Nelson to the Wahua Plain, " the same spot may be reached in about forty miles by crossing only one hill of no great height, nor difficult of ascent." This route has been proposed by Mr. Tinhne, and most favourably reported on by Mr. FitzGerald, the Government Surveyor and Engineer.