RANGITUMAU ROAD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 937, 29 November 1881, Page 2

RANGITUMAU ROAD.

* [To the Editor of the Daily.l Sir—Some of the pioneer settlers in the EftDgitamau Block, abutting on the Kouperanga river, have made several attempts, I have heard, to induce the Mastertou Highway Board to grant them a right of road to their holdings. Several years ago Mr King, the Engi- • neer, laid off a line of road through part of this block, from the road leading from Masterton to the Camp, and it was then understood that if this Hue was continued those settlors who are now complaining could be accommodated, But a hitoh appears now to have arisen. The Govern, mont has, iu the last Estimates, set apart a sura for the purpose of openingup some Grown lands for sale in this Block which many of the settlers hope will be on deferred payments; and a lucky thought appears to have taken possession of Mr Stuckey that a second hue of road to his propertv-and of course ending nowhere —would be very suitable to him, by way of Te Ore Ore; ind perhaps some of the magnates of the Survey Department, after a few friendly interviews, would not be able to comprehend any injustice in the course pointed out, and therefore would be willing to acquiesce in Mr Stuckey's suggestion, But I thins, as one of the first settlers interested in the Block, that all persons holding land on the old line of road should bo also consulted, and, if necessary, that the Minister of Lands, Surveyor-General, and others should be taken into our confidence before any injurious act shall be accomplished. The line contemplated by way of Te-Ore-Ore will have to pass through some native land not yet passed through the Court. There will be several cuttings, and dykes or gullies to fill in, a bridge to provide, and gradesi of some difficulty to surmount. On the old line of road-*\ which several ■of the settlers liberally ■ contributed towards—the Kouperanga is bridged, no grades or cuttings to eontend with, ( but about twenty chains of road running through a swamp that only requires a drain on either side, with one ortwoboxculvorts, so that the expense of making it a thorough good road would indeed be very'trifling in comparison with the outlay required for the new line, which is supposed to be about two miles • longer. It is to be hoped that this question will •*, be carefully gone into, that the mainten- -\ ance of two roads will be found unnecessary, and that the interests of the majority will net be sacrificed to the caprice of a small minority. I am, &o i •' • Settler, . [The County Council will expend the B«ms voted by the Government for openingup Crown lands in conjunction .with the. Survey Department, The principle on which the merits of road lines will be determined will be giving a preference to the one which opens up thebest country for settlement. The decision of the County is not likely to be influenced by Mr Stuckey or any other settler—En. W.D.]