THE TOTARA ROAD.

West Coast Times, Issue 62, 26 October 1865, Page 2

THE TOTARA ROAD.

A correspondent, writing from Ross, on the 17th inst., thus speaks of the track .— »" Will you allow me to enquire of the parties having the management of the works on the road to Ross, whether and when it istheir intention to have the said road ready for traffic. Some time since several gentlemen waited on Mr. Sale concerning it, when the latter assured them that a number of men were engaged upon it, and the road would be open in about three days; the parties themselves knew different, and said'so, but Mr. Sale was so satisfied his information was correct that there was no use in disputing the matter ; this is now irore than a month since, and should the works proceed at the same rate they have lately, it will be a couple of months more before the road is ready for use ; the distance urgently required is under half a mile, and considering the track the pack horses have to travel at present the delay is a disgraceful. One reason alleged by Mr. Sale for not pushing tho works forward was tho difficulty of getting men, whioh is not to be Avondered at considering tho wages given. Why, Sir, would you believe they are offering the munificent sum of 8s to 12s per day, and that In a. place where from the nature of the weather it is impossible for men to make moro than throe to four days per week, and whero living is at least 25 per cent, more than in Ilokitika. Again it is well-known that diggers never go tb work on the roads until driven' to it by necessity ; oftentimes the minor* aye reduced to their last shilling before thoy will seek such employment, and yot if they go and do a day or week's work and then ask for sufficient pay to get provisions with, thoy are told they must go to Hokitika before thoy can got a shilling, a journey whioh entails a loss of at least two daj's, besides considerable expense for

Iboatings &c, and for which they do toot get a farthing. Mr. Sale was here tt few days ago, but I will venturs to say he did not go down the tiack the horses have to travel at present, or there Would certainly be a little more activity displayed in pushing the work forward, for I do not think I am far wrong in saying it is one of the vilest pieces of bog and swamp to be met with even on the West Coast ; the only wonder is how the horses manage to get along at all ; and this with a good dray road within a week of completion if about a score of men with a horse an dray were put on. There are several other places in the track that are both bad and dangerous, although nothing to be compared to the latter part, and the general impression is, that Lad half the work been done in clearing the bed of the creek from its junction with the Totara, that has already been expended in clearing a track where it was not required, that a far better road could have been made. But what can be expected, when the principal director of the work is fifty miles ■away, and has not been near the place for nearly a month, and the man at present in charge absolutely requires to have the bad places pointed out to him.