MASTERTON TO PONGAROA

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10533, 20 January 1912, Page 4

MASTERTON TO PONGAROA

A SUGGESTED MAIL SERVICE. DISCUSSED BY CHAMBER 081 COMMERCE. At the meeting of the Council oft the Master-ton Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Mr G. 0. Summerell mentioned the matter of establishing ft daily mail service.between Mastertoji'. and Pongaroa. He; stated : that a eeV .tier from-. -Pongaroa, .witli v: whpm;,h«t.; 'h'a<T. been: . : sscu§siiys;'ih6'^n&tteY, : -:Co!i*', Sidereci the project feasible.itance between the two. centres from forty-three to forty-five niilesv - Between here and' Alfredton there > ■was only one bad grade. The coaehi " service between Master ton and Whakataki was forty-two miles in.length 1 , . ~ and although some of the grades were severe, the service nad been run. successfully for years. He saw no reason why, the Pongaroa service should not be equally successful. - He eon* , sidered that the best route would, be via the Flat Bush road. Sis milea of the road was unmefalledj but ttio metalling was a work for the County I Council to undertake. Mr Sumomerell" mentioned that the information at; hi* disposal was all second-hand, but he ■, hiad no reason to doubt its' reliabili ity. At present there were a nui* [her of small mail services from Matf* •terton to the north. "If these w«r& i consolidated, he had no doubt a (handsome subsidy would be avail* able. They would, of course, recog- , • .ntise.that opposition to the proposed would come from Eketahuna and Pahiatua. He would like to see a committee set up to report_to a fuI ture meeting. It was naturaJ thafl \ the trade of the backblooks should be> taken to the seaport from -the largest' centre. The committee could obtain particulars as to existing mail contracts and-the most convenient een- ! itre. He moved that a committee ' consisting'of the President, VicePresident, secretary and the mover be set up to report.

Mr G. W. Sellar seconded the mo« •Hon. Tlie Chairman stated that Mr Danliell had offered to take a committee ovpi- the route. Mr o. Caselberg said the service would!'Be of little use unless it could be continued all the .year round, Mr J. Brown mentioned that the •country was of,, papa formation, and liable to slips. There was also a difficulty in procuring, metal. The motion Was put and • carried Unanimously. J '