CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 54, 31 January 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents).

STATE OF ROADS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The advantages of local government are considered to be very beneficial to the inhabitants of country districts, but many others besides myself fail to see what benefits we derive. Take our main road through from Gisborne to Opotiki, what do we find ? Why the works have been so mismanaged that nearly all the ratepayers are complaining, and not without very great cause. Firstly, the road between Makaraka and Waerenga-a-hika is so narrow that it is absolutely dangerous for too-heavily-laden vehicles to pass each other, a capsize being almost inevitable. Then, we have a good piece of road from the Quarry through Ormond—in fact, this is about the best bit of road in the district, and it is now being picked up and re-metalled. This is, no doubt, a wicked waste of public moneys. The next mismanagement I shall refer to is between Ormond and Kaiteratahi. We have had to wade through mud for years, and at last this road has been formed and metalled. What a great boon to our settlers. Alas I again mismanagement appears on the scene. A great portion of this road is to be closed, on account of the encroachment of the river, and another, some chains back, is to be opened. Then-—another grand opportunity to spend more rates. I daresay the road in the township will meet with the same fate. It is high time that a public meeting was called by some of oui’ influential business men here, for if the main ro&d is shifted it will be a great loss to householders here, and people on their way to and from the country will have to travel a greater distance, and a large amount of money will be required to be expended on fresh roads, and a great portion of the moneys already expended will be simply thrown away.—l am, Ac., Ratepayer.