THE WAIKAIA BUSH ROAD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VIII, Issue 437, 24 February 1875, Page 2

THE WAIKAIA BUSH ROAD.

[From tlie " Cromwell Argus''^. '"' Last Friday, Mr James Samson, tho Mayor of Alexandra, and Mr Jame3 Ilaziett, M.P.C. forDunstan, waited upon Mr D. ManKellar, Goldfields Secretary, to ■bring under his notice tho necessity of a road from Waikaia Hush to Alexandra.

The deputation detailed at some length the advantages to be gained by the opening up of a tijnber supply at SO short a distance from Alexandra, which at present has to depend on Tapanui or Dunedin. Cartage from either place is a veiy heavy expense, Tapanui being seventy "miles distant, over what is anything but a decent road. The distance to Waikaia is -only twenty-seven miles, and a very good road could be constructed over one of the leading spurs of the Old Man range. It was also brought under Mr MacKellir/a notice that very great benefit would be conferred on many of the gold-mining localities beyond Alexandra and towards Naseby, — Black's, St Bathan's, . German Hill, and even Naseby itself. No bush exists in any of those neighborhoods,- and mining timber is rendered exceedingly expensive by the great cost of carriage. Mr M'Kellar said that if the information gathered by the Alexandra Town Council were correct, .there, could be no doubt .of the advantages of haying a road to the bush in question, -but in matters of this kii»d : the Government were in the habit of relying upon the reports of. their own officers. In deference to the opinion, however •of the Alexandra people, he, (Mr M'Kellar) would promise that the Engineer would make a flying survey of the proposed road,- and report upon it. He would also be asked to report upon the extent and quality of the bush which was sought to be opened up. It mightpossibly be that the extent and quality of the bush would not be worth the expense of a road. Mr M'Kellar then said that in the event of the Engineer's report being favorable, the Government would not undertake the work till it had been sanctioned by the Provincial Council. It was understood that the survey, spoken of would be made before the next meeting of the Council. ■

The deputation thanked Mr MacKellar and announced their satisfaction- at receiving his promise in regard to a surveyor being sent to report upon the matter.