The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1882.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4281, 20 September 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1882.

The Warden has recommended that the road to Otunui be made via Kauaeranga instead of by the Hape Creek. Indeed we cannot see how he could have done otherwise in the face of Mr Aitken's report. During the discussion for and against we hare held our judgment in suspense, pending the reports of the professional men, or those whose specially these matters are. The County Engineer has apparently made out a good case; still there are many practical men whom he has not convinced, and they think there should be no great difficulty in con • structing a road by the Hape Creek, contending that the gradient is not so steeP as the Waiotahi. But as Mr Aitkon would appear to have gone very carefully into the whole matter he may be regarded as the best authority. Should, as some predict, the road by the Kauaeranga prove a failure, that no one will use it for traffic to Otunui, the responsibility and the odium will attach to him. One strong point ho scores is that if metalling were intended much difficulty would be experienced on the Hape, whereas on the route by the. Kauaeranga there is abundance of metal at hand. As the Engineer's report is practically the case for the County, the reasons for the action taken by that body are presumably stated in their strongest light. Now, judging by assertions we hare known that gentleman make, to our mind the most favorable plea in their case is omitted, viz., that when the County asked the Hon. Mr Eolleston for a grant to develop the Otunui district, they had not the mines then in operation, nor that particular.spot, specially in view, but lather the construction of a road to open up a wide district known to be more or less auriferous, for prospecting. Now here is just where there is a want of frankness. If prospecting were the ■ole object, was a road required ? would not a track have been quite good enough for that purpose? "Without attributing unworthy motives, there are two excellent reasons why the County authorities should desire the road taken that way : it would tend to open up some good ground for settlement, or timbar country, and the goldfields' road would also form part of the County road up the valley. Their reasoning presumably was this: all things else being equal, we may as well throw that stone which will kill two birds. This was quite legitimate, for if the vote for opening up a gold mining locality would serve another purpose as well, without being in any way diverted from the intention of the vote, it would be wise to do so. But the County authorities have never acknowledged any such object: they have fought the miners on the ground that the Kauaeranga road is most suitable for their wants; that they knew their requirements better than they did themselves. Itseems to us, although possibly mistaken, that the County did not deal openly wilh those

interested in the Otnnui at first. What caused this journal to move in the matter ' was that members of a deputation urgiDg the Hape route complained of discourtesy on the part of the County, that they were snubbed, and to use a colloquialism " shut up." We did not urge a road either way, but strenuously advocated a track by way of the Hape Creek, such as would enable the miners to take a small battery up to the ground to test the value of some of the reefs. We were averse to a large expenditure upon roads until results justified it. At the same time it was pointed out that as Otunui was Government property the revenue therefrom would accrue to the County. Again, £100 was voted for a work which the engineer reported worth £270, and no two councillors gave a similar explanation. Cr Porter, who moved the resolution, explains that it was intended as an instalment. On the other hand Councillor Bagnall said that money would be thrown away in work at that time of the year, and the prospects at Otunui then did not warrant further expenditure. It appeared to be the County trying to checkmate the miners because the miners were opposed to their proposals, and matters perhaps took a personal and acrimonious turn. . This is deeply to be regretted, and we attribute a good deal of the trying ill-feeling that has arisen to the County to " sit upon " these Otunui people—some of whom it must be admitted spoke very harshly of several, if not all, officers and members —rather than taking them into confidence, and trying to convince them firstly, that they" wished to do the best for them, aud secondly, that what they proposed to do was best.. In conclusion we can challenge anyone to point out a single instance where this journal has uttered an opinion in any way opposed to the Kauaeranga road, and upon the evidence before us, we infer that that road for heavy traffic is the most suitable. It, however, must be used in conjunction with a really good track up the Hape. The argument in favor of the Kauaeranga is strengthened by the fact that claims, have been pegged out in the Maungakirikiri quite recently.