MOUNTAIN ROAD.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 416, 12 April 1879, Page 2

MOUNTAIN ROAD.

The following letter was forwarded by the the Chairman of the Patea County Council to Government, in January last, and contains such important suggestions that we now give publicity to it, in order to show the great necessity ol Government taking more notice of hints thrown out by local bodies. The disasters spoken of in the letter have already come to pass, and from accounts to hand, we learn that the road on the Taranaki side of Stratford is in a frightful state : Carlyle, Januaiy 14, 1879. To the Hon Minister Public Works, Sir, —I have the honor, at the request of the County Council, to call your attention to the importance of having the Mountain Road open foi traffic during the winter months. To enable this to be done I would urge upon the Government the necessity of expending all available funds at their disposal in gravelling, if not the whole, the worst places on this work. As the railwaj' will -shortly be open from Inglewood to Stratford, thh immediate necessity of expenditure on that portion of the Mountain Road is pf little importance when compared with that from Normanby to Stratford. If the latter portion is not permanently made during the fine Weather, ail communication between Sawera and New Plymouth must cease. The coach is now running to Inglewood by the Mountain Road, but a few daj's’ wet weather, even at this period of the year, would make it impassabie-for this service ; and I can safely say that after April it will be a difficult matter to get a packhorse through. You will therefore see that unless the road'from Stratford to Norraanby is made fit for winter traffic, the railway will be of very little use when it reaches the former

place, and will entail a considerable loss upon the Government. In case of any disturbance with the natives, communication by this route will be invaluable.—l am, &c., F. McGuire, Chairman P.C.C.

At a meetihg of the Taranaki County Council on Monday last, the following letters relative to the state of the Mountain Road were read: Messrs Gr. and H. Curtis wrote under date, forwarding an account for £5, “ for two days delay with two bullock teanrts, caused by the contractor opening a culvert across the main road at Midhurst, and making it impassable.” They further wrote on a subsequent date, reporting that the Mountain Road near Midhurst was again impassable for traffic, owing to J. Mulree proceeding with the formation and removing the old culvert without leaving any roadway over the stream ; there was every probability of most of the inhabitants sit or near Stratford being starved out this winter. Messrs Hursthousc and Berry, railway contractors also wrote upon the same subject, enclosing a letter sent to the Resident Engineer. Jn it they pointed out the great loss they would suffer by the traffic on the Mountain Road being stopped. They would require an extension of time for their contracts because they were obstructed, and the portion of road referred to was absolutely required for the successful carrying out of the Stratford Railway contract. Two days during the last week the mail coach, although containing no passengers, had to be drawn through the mud by bullock power,the horses being quite overpowered, and unable to move it. They suggested that after the formation nowin hand was completed, the rest should be deferred until next summer..

A letter ou the same subject, was road from the Under-Secretary of Public Works. It asked the Council to delay the formation of the road until a more favorable season, otherwise Messrs Hursthouse and Berry might have claims against the Government. The.Chief-Postmaster wrote enclosing a letter from Mr A. J. Hutton, Chief Clerk of the general Post-office, in which he drew attention to the bad state of the Mountain Road, and requested the Council to take such steps as might facilitate the carriage of Her Majesty’s mails between Haw era and Inglewood, by the contractor, with as little delay as possible /‘otherwise the service by that road might have to be discontinued to the great disadvantage of the public. The Engineer said the contractor (Mulrcc) was only bound by his contract to keep the road open for the coach. The land was very rough before the formation was attempted. The Chairman thought the bullockdrivers and contractors were fond of quarrelling with each other, instead of rendering mutual assistance.

Mr Syme deprecated the obstinacy of ~r 1... a u.,-o of other important contracts being carried out.

The Chairman remarked that Malroe had the road in his own hands until his contract w is finished. Mr Elliott did not think he' should have the power of stopping the whole transport, lie had not even kept the road clear lor the coach. After some discussion it was moved by Mr Elliott, seconded by Mr Price, and curried, 11 That ihe Engineer be instructed to inspect Ihe works on the Mountain Roaa, and be authorised to defer completion of such portion as he may deem advisable until November or December next,”