BALL ROAD.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 251, 5 September 1877, Page 2

BALL ROAD.

(To the Editor of the Patsa Mail.) ’■ Sib,—You have had several correspondents bn the above matter,_ but not think that any of them express the sentiments of'' the majority of bush settlers interested—they certainly do not mine. Thefe has been altogether too much- imputing of unworthy motives, [and ; tpo, many /stabs in the dark to suit me exactly. The opening of Ball Hoad is of vital importance; toi us; it will shorten'the,distance between our homes 1 and‘the open land by a mile, and "although we' should all be glaql ifthe Board Woitld make , the road for; us free of any trouble or expense, I cannot, see that they are making any outrageous demand upon us under the circumstances. ■ ■ j It must be borne in mind'.'that there is already a road to this .part, and' that Board have hot funds, to meet all the requirements of the coming year. 1 Of course they .could have got money enough by piling on the rate, but bunian • nature is .weak, and the members of the •Board are taxed very, heavily at present compared with us, and 1 fancy that in a few years time, when we are valued atjas high a figure as they are, we shall be dpt to grumble if the .rate is fixed high, j The Board, simply, , asks us to assist them. It does-not dictate terms, and 1 believe that’if we’eau aghee to do, some’ of the side-cutting for them, involvihg the outlay of, say, a Week’s labour' for each settler interested, it will be acceptable to them ; and who would begrudgea week’s work to save all the ~ rmfdj. misery, and discomfort of a mile of bush travelling in winter ? At all events,! I intend, as soon as the work is laid off,|to j try. and come to some such , arrangement j with my neighbors, and 1 believe We’ j shall be met: fairly by: the Board, asjit . cannot be denied that from the very first j year of its existence; it ;has been vejry, ! liberal to the roads leading to the bush... j; Excuse the" length of. this letter, Mr ! Editor, as it is the first timc 'lhavei trespassed on your space.’. I have written j it without fear, favour; or-affection, and | after hearing 7nany -arguments pro and • con, and believing that most of my I neighbors will agree with my view, upon I consideration, —Yours, &c., I G. A. MARCHANT.; Suramerlands, Woodville, ! September S, 1877.