THE NORTH ROAD.

Southland Times, Issue 1198, 21 January 1870, Page 2

THE NORT H ROAD.

DEPUTATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. .•» On Wednesday last, 19th inst., a deputation from the settlers of the northern and western districts had an interview with the Government relative to the completion of a small portion of the North Eoad, near the four-mile post, th© unfinished state of which greatly interferes with the traffic, and renders, to some extent, what haa already been done, useless. " • The deputies were, Messrs J. W. Mitchell,; D. M'Arthur, J. Grieve, K. M'lvor, W. J. Moffett, J. Morton, P. Pelling, J. Murray, Gh Reese, J. Hare,

.and A. Toshack, the latter of whom acted as spokesman. They were received hy His Honor the Superintendent and James Wilson, Esq., Provincial Treasurer. Mr Toshack said the deputation was aware that things were in a transitional state here at present, that the existing Government was merely a provisional one, and was not expected to undertake new public works of any magnitude, but the exigencies bf the case on which they had come weTe so pressing thafc t'lev hoped Government would be able to do something for them notwithstanding the circumstances to which he had alluded. The road in question was, as his Honor was aware, the most important one in the province ; it was the main thoroughfare t from the town to all the northern and wes crn districts, and was also used by the settlers of some parts of the en stern districts — those residing about the Mabel bush, and others. The portion which they wanted attended to was only about 'half a mUe in length, was already formed, and only required the gravel to be placed upon it to complete the chain of communication, there beingagoodroad on both sides ofthe gap. Further, the work already expended on it was being totally destroyed for want of the little extra outlay. The memorial he had the honor of presenting, originated at a public meeting held at Wallacetown on the 10th inst., when a resolution, which he would read, was passed, viz. : — " That a memorial be presented to the Government, praying that the portion of the North. Road, southward, of the Junction Hotel, be grayelled before the winter sets in." This resolution, he might inform his Honor, had been copied as a heading to a number of blank forms, and distributed for signature throughout the various districts interested. These forms already bore the names of 182 settlers, and two of the papers had yet to be sent in. He was aware, that this work had been before the Council at its recenfc session, when its cost was estimated by Mr Dawson at £600, but he was of opinion that that estimate included cartage of gravel from Wallacetown, whereas, the railway being now available, it was thought a much less sum would do it. He trusted the Government would give the matter their favorable consideration. Mr Toshack then read the following memorial :- — ." To the Superintendent and Executive Council of the Province of Southland. "The Memorial of the Settlers, &c., in fche Northern and Western Districts, " "Respectfully Shewetb, — Thafcyour memorialists, representing tbe agricultural and tracing public of these districts, have a deep interest in the road to Invercai^ill, the chief market town of the province, bem;* maintained in an efficient state for traffic daring the winter months. " That although much has already been done in efficient and permanent road-making along the North Eoad as far as Wallacetown, yet that portion southward of tbe Junction Hotel, about 40 chains, remaining unfinished, presents during the winter months an effectual barrier to even ordinary traffic, and detracts from tbe usefulness of tbe rest ofthe road. That your memorialists see with regret tbat the summer season, so favorable to tbe economical prosecution of road•making, is being allowed to pass away without any action being taken to finish (gravelling only being required') that portion of road, wliich, if finished, since it i 3 the thoroughfare to towu from tbe most populous and important agricultural districts in the province, could aot but conduce to tbe general prosperity of tho province, and the great convenience of tbe community. "That although the completion of railway communication to Winton will afford facilities to many of easy transit of produce to market, yefc tbe settlers in tbe western district — the most important grain-producing district in the province — by such means of transit can be little benefited, as tbe short; distance of railway carriage of which tbey could avail themselves would not compensate for the loading, reloading, and charges thereby involved. Tbe completion therefore of the portion of road southward of the Junction Hotel, is indispensable to maintaining the traffic during the winter months, from the various settlements in tbe western district, and from the settlements along tbe southward frontage of the Makarewa Bush eastward towards Mabel. "May it therefore please your Honor, and members of the Executive Council to take the matter into immediate and favorable consideration, and grant tbe prayer of this memorial. " And your memorialists will ever pray," &c. His Honor replied that the Government would take immediate steps to ascertain what the work in question would coat, although not in a position to promise its heing at once done. At the present moment they were perfectly helpless to do anything, but in the course of a few days, dependent on advices expected from the North, they might see their way to having the work performed. The claim he admitted as a very just one, and would promise that, under any circumstances, every effort would be made on the part of the Government to comply with the prayer of the memorialists. He would lay the matter before the Executive, and acquaint the deputation wifch the result in the course of a day or two. As to its hemg done out of the proceeds of the lOOOacresperannum granted to the Superintendent by the Waste Lands Act, 18G5, for public works, he was sorry to state that the privilege of expending that amount for the present year was denied him, through former Governments having gotmore than they were entitled to; in fact, the grant was pledged up to the end of the present year. He differed, however, with the local Board in their interpretation of the clause, and had a thought of insisting on the matter at head-quarters. The Provincial Treasurer thought it Jbrtunate that a member of the Waste Xiand Board was also a member of the deputation, as they might expect him to use his influence with the Board in procuring for his Honor the 1000 acres to which he was justly entitled. He regretted that any obstruction had been placed in the way by that Board, and could not see how they could construe the clause as they had done, 7 and 8. Mr M'Arthur said that, having 'been appealed to, he felt it necessary to explain what had occurred at the Waste Land Board with reference to the question Taised. He felt himself at liberty to do so, seeing that the sittings of the Board were open to tne representatives of the press, and that what he was now going to state might legitimately have been made public- at the time of its occurrence. When the question whether, under the ,

i Waste Lands Act, ISGS, the Provincial [ Government was entitled to a thousand [ acres of land for public works for the current year came before the Board s recently, he had expressed an affirmative L opinion. The circumstances were these : r — The act provides that the local Govera- [ ment should have the power of appro- ' priating land to the extent named every > year. Former Governments had, however, \ so far overdrawn the amount, in past I years, as to leave nothing for the present, . supposing the excess granted in one year > to be chargeable against the grant for the following year. This supposition was the correct one, in the opinion of the Board, ! himself excepted, and, as he thought thejr > decision erroneous, he had causad his [ protest against it to be minuted, he being • of opinion thafc the act does not admit ■ the possibility of any portion of any year's grant being expended in advance, as otherwise there would be no limit to the ; amount which might be forestalled. Mr G. Reese drew the attention ofthe Government to the desirability of having the gravel brought by railway to the junction, instead of carting from the Makarewa, as the latter course would cut up the Wallacetown road so much. One or two other deputies harms spokenshortly on the subject, Mr Toshack thanked his Honor for their very courteous reception, and they then withdrew. _____________