To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, 30th Augt. 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 115, 5 September 1846, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, 30th Augt. 1846.

Sir, — On my way from Porirua yesterday, after arriving opposite Mr. Boddington's house, I found three deep trenches dug across the road, the whole are difficult to cross as the ground is swampy on each aide ; I was obliged to dismount and hesitated some minutes before forcing my horse across one (the worst) of them ; as it was he sunk to his haunches, but fortunately scrambled across, for it can scarcely be said he leaped it. I could not help reflecting on the predicament I should have been in if I had been a few hours later, and had been compelled to cross these ditches in the dark; if I had not broke my neck, I am confident my horse would have been seriously injured. On inquiry I found the trenches had been dug by the roadmakers upwards of a week since, intending (I suppose after some accident has occurred) to cover them with timber. This work I understand is nominally under the superintendence of the Government Surveyor, who has 1 deputed another party to superintend, and who attends daily (I presume gratuitously) for about ten minutes. A. quantity of bush a little further on has been (brown into the road by parties who took the work by contract, and strange to say, they have not been compelled to remove it; the road was bad enough before and of course much worse now. Beyond the stockade some bad spots have recently been repaired by the maori road party, and nearer Porirua by Capt. Russell's party, who is making a good road on this side of Jackson's ferry. I am, Sir, Your's, A Traveller. [We have received several complaints about the Porirua and Hutt roads from other parties, and intend making a few observations on the subject in our next number. — Ed. N.Z.S."]