DISTRICT ROAD DEVELOPMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3085, 6 January 1909, Page 5

DISTRICT ROAD DEVELOPMENT.

TWO NECESSARY WORKS.

OF IMPORTANCE TO MASTER-

fiTON.

WHERE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIGHT ASSISI.

j A local authority on the matter of development in and around the Masterton district had some interesting and important remarks to make *o a Wairarapa Age reporter yesterday, in regard to the improvement of two highways, of considerable moment to Masterton. The first road mentioned was that known as Barton's line, on the road between Masterton and Tiraumea, via Wangaehu. Now the Alfredton settlers (and they are many) when they wish to drive to Masterton to transact business, are involved in a ride of r l3 miles? to Eketahuna, and 32 from there to Masterton, if they come by that route (45 miles in all), whereas by the Wangaehu Valleyroute there is an almost direct line of only 29 miles:. That this latter route would be a greatly used one by not only Alfredton, but other adjacent settlers, is a matter beyond question in the opinion of the authority mentioned, if only the unmetalled portion of the length known as Barton's line were put into thorough metalled repair. Already the road is metalled as far as Dryer's Rock on the southern (Masterton) end, and a fair length on the Alfredton end has also been metalied. It only needs now for the two internal metalled ends to be linked up, and an important connection between Masterton and a big district wili be established, and not only will the sealers be greatly benefited, but a substantial increase in v the volume of business done in the town must ensue, A Government grant towards this necessary work is what is required, and this is what should be strongly agitated for. With regard to the second matter referred to by tne authority mentioned, it might first be mentioned that last session the Government set apart a large sum to be devoted to the converting of bridle tracks into dray roads in backblocks districts. The MastertonEast Coast district has a very legitimate claim to a portion of this allocation, as that beautiful tract of fertile country comprising Homewood and its environs is virtually locked out of Masterton by being 50 miles distant by a vehicular road, when it might be only about 36 or 37 miles—a difference in distance which is a very important to settlers, who have business with Masterton. The present route'is via Blairlogie, and is, roughly, 50 miles. The route which should be used is that via Fernyhurst, which has a length of five miles, at present only a bridle track, and the widening of this comparatively short strip is all that :tandc between the 50-mile and the 36-mile drive from Masterton to Homewood. The metalling of the, Weraiti-Ferny hurst road hae recently Shortened the pr.pcstd route by five miles, and from Masterton to what- IS known as Chambers' Gate tliSite is.£ good metalled road for twenty miles. Thence for 12 miles is what is termed a "dray*' rosd—a highway 14ft in width-and this length is already well culverted and bridged. The remaining five miles is, as stated, a mere bridle track, and is very much in the interests of Masterton from a trade point of view that the Homewood settlers ahould have every facility for reaching the town comfortably and expeditiously by road. There sve further possibilities attendant on the proper opening up and developing of this route, inasmuch as a complete loop from Masterton through Homewood and Kaiwhata via tne Te Wharau road would be formed around which two alternate fast coach services could run to Masterton, which is the natural outlet for the whole of this great area of country.

Seeing that Masterton stands to benefit considerably by the bringing intu more direct touch setthrs and the tcwn, the Chamber of Commerce might advantageously advocate Government assistance in both the matters mentioned.