THE COUNTY ROAD

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 337, 26 January 1889, Page 5

THE COUNTY ROAD

from M.'itakana to Pakiri which has just been completed, runs through the settlement along the coast of Whangateau Harbour. This is a fine road with an easy grade over the hi' ls, and is one of the gieatest improvements of the district, and w ill bo highly appreciated by old and new settlers. The Rodney County Council and their late Engineer deserve great credit for having carried out such an undertaking. We may, however, say that but for Mr Ballance's village settlement scheme having increased the population, which brought prominently before the C4overnmenb the wants of the district — il is doubtful whether this much needed public road would have been done for years to come. The Government made a special grant for this road and spurred the County on to complete it. Still two ends were left unfinished till made by the Government through what are called relief works for the village settlers, but which are no more enentitled to be called " relief works than the construction of any other necessary road or railway in the country. This has put a few pounds into the hands of these struggling settlei-s, although the earnings have been very small, probably not more than 15s per week with very hard work. But the benefit of tho road to all is beyond computation. Every penny spent on it is well spent.