The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1882.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4306, 19 October 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1882.

Two days Bgo we quoted from the Bay of Plenty Times to sbow (bat that journal had foimedilself intoaTanrangaselKadmiration scciety.it s mirror being the ThamesTauranga road. If our contemporary will apply the light of truth he will discover that bis mirror did not cast a true reflection. He will find that the County Council of that district has not exhibited such a superabundance of merit or energy as to jostify it in crowing over the Thames body, after all. For instance, the whole mam road from Tauranga to the Lake was made by the General Government. From Katikati, thence to the Thames County boundary the road runs through open sandy country where there is no bush, the only difficult portion being about a quarter of a mile near the Hikurangi Gorge. There is not even a cutting worth the name, nor a rock, except at the Gorge. Instead of metal there are several miles of shells. The only traffic at present at all likely to spoil this road is a coach three times a week carrying some half-dozen passengers. If our contemporary would carry his memory back a little he would fiud that the greater portion of this road was formed if not before, soon after the Counties Act was brought into operation ; the Armed Constabulary did a good deal of work on it, and the Katikati Bettlers were furnished with employment thereon by the General Government. It is evident, therefore, that the County Council cannot claim credit for constructing that road. A vote of £3500 has also since that

time be granted to the County for the road between Mr G. V. Stewart's, and the gorge. As a contrast, we may point out that if the Thames main road is not all that could be desired it was all done and paid for by this county. And further, the country passed through is very different. While in the Tauranga portion a shower of rain is a godsend, as it percolates through the sand and prevents the road flying away, on the Thames portion it forms mud of the purest and stickiest character, which renders the road almost impassable in winter. Such is the difference between the two councils: the Tauranga one has had its work done for it, the Thames has had to do its best with a big undertaking which, under the most favorable circumstances, was a much more arduous task than its boastful brother's.'