CORRESPONDENCE. A COMPLAINT FROM LEPPERTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8043, 2 February 1906, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

A COMPLAINT FROM LEPPERTON.

TO TUH MJlTllll. Sir, —We received no m ill this morning, owing to the boy Ihat lias mei tile train for Ihe lust ihv years having given the work up. A notice has been posted up that, the inward mail will be delivered from 5 to I! p.m., as the po.-l. master cannot gel a hoy to meet the train. In future the outward mail is Jo close at <1 p.m., instead of 7.30 a.mi. The morning train arrives at Lcpp.-r----ion at 8.20 a.m., so T think ii e.ml I not make much dilTercnce to Irive il altemled to. Under proposed condition; great inconvenience would be caused The arrangement has put the distric back 25 years, as illl out of 100 hive been well satisfied with the mail arrangement, while the delivery has been worked to the minute.—l am, etc., Nhw Choi. .

Lepperton, January 211 th, l!)Oo'.

OPEXIXG UP THE BACK COUNTRY. TO Till) KMTOK. Sii'.-Wliile Stratford, Klthani, llaworn, and places farther east are making every.'effort to secure the trade of the back country, while dav after day the energies of the people of those places, seconded by those of the barkcountry people, are engaged in making roads, railways, and w ire communication, so that trade can he done quickly and comfortably between them, whati's New-Plymouth and the Coast doing? Why not make some sort of eu'ort to do some of the back-country business ? The settlers on the Moki road, who wish to drive cattle to market, have to face a road 70 miles long to reach Stratford, and arc days on the march. Ilieir cattle, too, are not in good condition after the long journey. Why then, is the road to the coast, 20 to 30 miles amy, not made ? lam told t hat there are no engineering difficulties, but that things go on now as they did at lirst, mid instead of a day's drive, the settler has to put up with a week on the road. The completion of the Moki Road to the coast would benefit, in the first place, the settlers in the place • secondly, the settlers higher up iu the Crura ; and, thirdly, the people of Xew Plymouth; as necessarily the north coast towns are dependent on the capi. tal of Tarauaki. Then, again, the Prespeet road from the township of Whangamoinona is some ti miles from Wai-tai-a, A cattle driver could get to Wairar,", if the road were formed, in the same time he'd take to reach IStrnllimore, Inll'w.iy to Stratford, which at present is the nearest market. And at \Vaitara there are freezing works, siilcyards, and every conveiiN ence Going back to the Moki road, which runs straight l,> the coast, it is well to remember that several country roads open out on it, lapping a large area, not only of the settled area, but also a great portion of the land soon lo be opened up for settlenient. The leading men of Xew Plymouth can sec Iroiu the map the position of affairs, and it is for them lo make a move in order to bcnelll their town , 1s well as the back-blocks of Tarauaki. Why are these roads kept hack? Wlivaro'thov not pushed on to completion ? A formed road without metal would be a boon, and why business men did not act In the matter years ago is a mystery - I am, etc. J ' Cxi: of tii'i; B.u'k-.Bi.orKs.