A COMPLAINT.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 231, 21 March 1866, Page 3

A COMPLAINT.

TO THB EDITOR OP THE SOUTHLAND TIMES. Sin, — I wish to put a problem to you, if experience teaches fools, what are G-overnmeut officials ? My reason for asking the above is — I dare say you will either have seen or heard tell of the facined road that we bad through the Waikivi bush — it turned out a very expensive, as well as a very useless experiment, so much so that they had to be taken up, and tbe road corduroy'd and gravelled. Now if you take a walk of about two miles out the East or Dunedin road, you will see some more of that useless work, namely, facines about 8 ft. long laid down on the centre of the road, and about 6 in. of mud on the top of them, then a very slight scurf of gravel — no fear of tbe gravel hurting the horses' feet, as it is very fine. Now, sir, how long will that last ? Surely the officials who have charge of the road-making are — in fact I don't know what to call them — its just a downright throwing away of Southland . acres. I'm sure the settlers out that road would thank the G-overn-ment more if they would continue the macadamised road — even though it should only be another half-mile — rather than go on the way they are going. "Why don't the members of the Provincial Council, who reside out that road, look into that ? It is true that Mr. Hay and Mr. "Wood talk about a tramway, now the the settlers out that district have sent in a petition to the Superintendent, rather to gravel or metal tbe road as far as possible, as the tramway would be very inconvenient, and of very little use to them, as how would they get their produce carted to the terminus. It would do very well for the settlers at tbe Mataura. — I am, &c, A Settlee. March 10th, 1866. ♦