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Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 200, 2 June 1893, Page 5

The neglected state of the North has been attributed to the apathy of the citizens of Auckland. When the Hon- Minister of Lands was in this district he deprecated the intensity of the outcry made in Auckland for railway connection with Taranaki whilst so little was evidently sought for the advancement of the North which was of such advantage to Auckland City and for the trade of which she has no competitor. We are glad to see signs of more interest being taken in the North; the Auckland Star of Monday says : “It is certain that the deplorable condition of northern roads has placed an effectual barrier against settlement. A roadless north will never be settled. With a system of good metalled roads throughout the north, we have little doubt that large numbers of gumdiggers vvou d settle upon the land, and employ the good wages they are earning in makinghomes for themselves, and in adding very largely to the permanent prosperity of tire colony, instead of wasting their wages at the pub lie house, In the course of a few days Mr Seddon will visit Auckland, when ue hope our members will forcibly bring before him the urgent necessity for throwing open for settlement the lands already purchased, and for completing the purchases now in hand. If they are not blind to their duty, they will impress upon the Premier the paramount importance of a measure to deal with the fertile but useless lands in tiie bands of the IVlaorics. -Above all we would impress upon Mr Seddon the urgent need for providing funds for making roads in the north, both in justice to the present industrious but neglected settlers and in order that intending settlers may get on to lands to be, we hope, shortly thrown open. If this be not done, every other measure to extend settlement in the north will be a dead failure.” So say we.