THE OTANUI ROAD.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4256, 22 August 1882, Page 3

THE OTANUI ROAD.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.)

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib, —Will you permit me, through the medium of your columns, to draw the attention of miners, speculators, and others interested in the fast becoming <;,_. chief,.if not almost sole, mainstay of the v prosperity of this goldfield in the future, tiz., the Otanui Slock. After persistent agitation on the part of a body of miners, , who at great cost and trouble prospected and proved that portion of the field and rendered it worthy of notice, the GoTernment, recognising its importance, granted for the purpose of opening up the block by a road for the transit of quartz, machinery, and other requisites for a new field, a sum of £4,25, such amount to be subsidised by a like amount to be subscribed by the Thames County Council— of which a sum amounting to £300 has already been received from the purchase of licenses on the block, and with the immediate prospect of an unlimited of applications forTaore. Now, Sir, there are-two ways by. which access ■to the Otunui can be obtained?—the one by the Hape road and the other via the lLauaeranga valley - y the former a distance of 3£ miles, a great portion of which is ■ already made and leads directly on to the workings; the latter a distance of 9 miles, a large portion travelling the Kauaeranga .' Valley, and which could not be con* ' structed for less than £2000, so thit the amount in hand would be totally made* auate for such a formation, . while ie cost of the. road via the Hape would not exceed ,£7OO at the most, yet in the face of these facts, some of the members of the Thames County Councilj for reasons best known to themselves, arc-actually endeavoring—against the strong and repeated protests of the miners and others concerned—to appropriate the money for the Kauaeranga Valley Boad. One member notably, Mr j Deeble, on the occasion of his first candidature, owed his seat in the Council to bis promises to his supporters to endeavor 1o open the Hape district and the Otanui block by amain road. Yet now the occasion requires effort, he is found second ing and supporting a resolution in direct opposition to the wishes of his supporters and the ratepayers generally. As for the mover of the resolution referred to -Mr Bagnall—although the member for this i riding, I think if he were to make himself better acquainted with this portion of his constituency he would think twice before tabling such a ridiculous motion. To the statement of the County Chairman (conveyed in writing to one of the sitting members) that the Government officials and a number of the miners were in favor of the Kauaeranga Road, I am prepared to give emphatic denial—the unanimous wish being for the Hape route. In conclusion, I would suggest that, if practicable, the Councillors would see their way to rescind-that obnoxious resolution it might be better for some of them at the next elections, for a majority of the ratepayers are opposed to such mismanagement. If no notice is taken of this appeal to common sense, I shall in stronger terms announce facts which I do not here think necessary—pending results. Trusting you will insert this, I have, &c, ■;'■-.. . .■'.....-. WIIIIAM. STMS. ; Arizona License, Otanui.