The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1871.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 144, 26 April 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1871.

. Mr Meredith, in a letter published in our last issue/ wrote: " I think you are less than generous in twitting the Whareama settlers that their district is kept in a primitive state by want of road communication; rather accord them your aid in getting fair play from the Masterton Highway Board," We would desire to state emphatically that in our opinion the Whareama settlers have a claim for a road on the Masterton Highway Board and the Castlepoint Highway Board, and that should these two Highway Boards not do. their duty by connecting the district with the main line, the County will be bound to take the question up and moke the road. The Lower Wlmreama contains valuable agricultural land and intelligent and enterprising settlers,' who are endeavoring to change the neighborhood from a pastoral to an agricultural country. If any settlers deserve roads it is those who, like the ones we are referring to, ore making corn'grow where native grass has only hitherto been found; who are developing what may ultimately prove to be the richest riding in Wairarapa East. There must be practicable communication between Masterton and the Lower Whareama, not only as a right to which the settlers in the latter district are entitled, but as an essential condition to the progress of the County as a whole. In saying this, however, we do not admit that the Lower Whareama settlers have acted wisely in opposing the Black Hill route. When they found that Mr King could not consistently with his .duty to the County of which he was the Engineer take the line in the direction which they desired, they should not have thrown obstacles in the way of-its construction, but at once have made their demand for the particular road which they require, and to which they are clearly entitled. A notice in our advertising columns indicates that the traffic between Masterton and Tenui is to be practically made as difficult as possible by closing the lower road and forcing travellers over the Black Hill line before it is made. It is actions of this character that we deprecate. 11 is steps of this kind which retard the progress of the district as a whole, and tend to keep it isolated and unpopular. We hear, too, that there is a probability of the sums promised to be paid by way of debenture for public works being not forthcoming because the Comity and Highway Boards will not meet the wishes of certain settlers. This, too, is very much to be regretted, We do not profess to be very familiar with the local differences of the Whareama and Castlepoint districts, but it is very obvious that they exist, and that their existence is an obstacle to all progress. When we find gentlemen like Mr Beetham, Chairman of County East, and Mr Pharazyn, who are totally disinterested personally in such differences, stating positively that the Lower Whareama settlers can obtain their reasonable requirements from the Masterton Highway Board, and, failing that, from the County, it is a pity that local differences should not be adjusted, and some arrangement made by which both the Black Hill line and the Lower Whareama road could both be proceeded with.