The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 167, 15 November 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1876.

Notwithstanding a natural inclination on the part of the Patea distiict, n )t to wish incorporation with the Taranaki people in the counties about to be inangurat/'il, there is, and always mil be, a very warm side on the part of t e people here towards the New Plymouth people.: Not only that, but they are hound up in-.■mutual commercial ties. Patea can produce stock that the Taranaki market can .profitably absorb, provided that moans of communication are afforded. Amongst a tew really useful votes, that the Assembly during its late sitting agreed to, was some six thousand

odd for the Mountain road,'between here and Now Plymouth. Now this may ho math oil her a. blessing or a curse, as Mr ex-Siiperintendent Carrington, now the acknowledged Government agent, wills. If the amount at command is-properly disposed of, if it is used lit bridging the most dangerous streams, in making good the most swampy parts ol the road, and in making the lino generally passable, it will be a great benefit to the whole community.;: Should it bo so judiciously expended, it will render communication between hero and New Plymouth open nearly, if not quite, all the year round, and it will thereby shorten the present route by.some thirty miles. We necl hardly add that such curtailment will be equally to the advantage of both ends of the route. Should, however, the Superintendent, for such he is at present in fact, devote the money voted t© one end or'other, or both ends, and determine to complete a short span thoroughly, the vote might just as well not have been agreed to, inasmuch as its expenditure will not farther communication'with New Plymouth one iota. All that is needed is to bridge the dangerous places, to make good the treacherous swamps, and enable stock to be driven over the route a t least a considerable portion of the year. We do not speak selfishly in the matter, for it is equally the interest of both New Plymouth and Patea to become as intimately associated as ■ possible, and the thorough making of a few miles of road will not facilitate intercourse between the two places. Mr Carrington is. an engineer, and has no doubt a “.penchant” for doing work thoroughly, and, could he make the road throughout, we would heartily support him in his thoroughness. As it unfortunately happens, however, the money at cominancV.would only bo a drop in the bucket towards complete construction, and therefore it becomes an obvious duty to make it go as far as possible, and to apply it in such a manner as will effect the most good. Should it be spent in the manner suggested, in making the worst parts passable, it will make the mountain road open during nearly, if not quite, the whole year. Another thing we would point out. It has been customary for Mr Carrington to commence work with the rainy season, to begin .roadmaking as the winter sets in. We. need not tell him what he knows so well, himself, that a change in this respect is desirable. The mtmey to be expended has been voted, and is available at once. The summer is just setting in, and hot. -.only can the necessary works be done, at a cheaper rate at this time, but they will be executed -in . a great deal moi;e -; substantial manner as well. We think •that Mr Carrington will listen to reason in this respect, and it' might be well if some:of the local-bodies at both en Is of the road would urge this view of proposed expenditure on him, as it wouldbe alike beneficial to Patea and New Plymouth. If the small amount at command be judiciously laid out it will be to the advantage of both places. On the other hand, if it be injudiciously spent, it will benefit neither. The fiat rests chiefly with Mr Carrington, on whose decision depends, as far as this road is concerned, its usefulness or otherwise.