THE MAIN SOUTH ROAD.

Southland Times, Issue 1719, 25 March 1873, Page 3

THE MAIN SOUTH ROAD.

(to thi bditob of thb timbs.) Sib, — Can yon afford me space in your columns to write a few lines concerning what 1 cannot help calling a disgrace to the whole Province of Otago, viz., the entirely neglected state of the Main South Road from Mataura to Balclutha ? . I say nothing about the road from Invercargill to Mataura, as a railway is in course of construction. The road was impassable last winter, and now, when winter is approaching again, there appears to be no sign of anything being done. There must be some reason for this. Do the engineers pass this way in a balloon ? Or are they ordered to shut their eyes and irouths soath of the Molyneux ? I cannot understand any one passing through Popotunoa Gorge without being surprised at the evidence of entire neglect along tbe whole rosd. Surely there must be some very strong interest at work to prevent anything being done, as it look* more like design than neglect, that this Main South Road should, year after year, be left out of the estimates, while any little township north o! Mataura has only to ask to receive something in the shape of a road at any rate. What is wanted for the coming winter— and considering the amount of traffic and land sold, the request is moderate — is something done to Popotunoa Gorge, and a few men through the winter months filling up the bad places with loose metal, which is to be had in plenty along tbe whole line, and letting off the water, of which there is also a copious supply. But as tbe Martin's Bay road is all-important now, this will sink into insignificance 1 suppose. — I am, &c, Mud. Invercargill, 21st March, 1873.