KARORI ROADS AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5492, 2 November 1878, Page 3

KARORI ROADS AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —lu your issue of October 25 a letter appeared signed “ Looker-on. ” Prom tbo tenor of that communication the writer evidently is not a disinterested looker on at the contest now going on for the election of county councillors. He seems to take a warm interest in the Karori-road (the bone of contention); and he points out the way he thinks the present road can be improved, and with a branch line via Baker’s Hill to Te Aro, it will satisfy all our wants for the good time coming. With your permission I will review his proposed improvements. He says with a slight deviation near the 'Devil's Bridge, to avoid the steep gradient (that work done), the road will then bo a good one. That slight deviation (about half a mile) would be easy no doubt, but the road as a whole still would not ho an easy one, although sums in provincial grants amounting to between £4OOO and £SOOO have been expended on it during the last twenty-live years. This slight deviation from the nature of the work to be done would cost more than would the forming of the whole lino of a really good road from the most populous part of the town to the centre of Karori. If “ Looker-on ” will examine a file of papers sixteen or eighteen years ago he will find that Dr. Featherston put £SOO on the estimates for the branch lino to Te Aro via Baker's Hill. When surveyed the estimated cost was £2OOO, so it was abandoned,. Supposing that branch line were opened it would be of little general benefit to Karori, and to the residents in Wellington who wished to inhale the pure air it would just be going up the hill to go down again. They would see nothing of Karori or the country. Whereas the road from Te Aro via Polhill Gully would open a fine ride or drive round Wellington worth wishing for, and to the settlers in Makara and Karori would be a real benefit by shortening the distance to *Te Aro by two miles. Till such time as this road is either opened or abandoned there is small chance that the people will consent to special rates for the Devil’s Bridge diversion.—X am, &c., An Old Colonist.