OPENING THE COUNTRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2037, 9 July 1885, Page 2

OPENING THE COUNTRY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l vontureto add a few J remarks to those mado by Mr Mawlcy in'his lottor of the 6th. He calls attention to the little that has ever beon done to open up the country between Masterton and Alfredton via the Wangaehu Valley. This part of the count;/ is hdeed almost a terra-incognita—simply for want of road access. The road in question would, at a moderate computation,, open up 60,000 acres of fine bush count;/. This is surely a matter of interest; but when it is considered that most of this country would find its natural Outlet directly to Master-, ton, then the matter becomes one of more than general interest. A glance at the map will shew that thisone of those roads which will bring business through Masterton, thus connteractiug the tendency of the railway to oany trade past and on to Wellington. During a trip up the Wangaehu Valley I noticed the fine quality of the soil, and, like Rasselas in the Happy Valley, 1 was tempted to' ask questions, one of which was "Why has land so easily within reach lain 'idle bo long ?" One reason appears to be that the Crown has held a large poiiion back from sale; another that non-resident speculators held some; and another that part of it falls under the bane of Native titles. The first retarding influence is likely to be removed this summer, as I believe the Crown will bring their land into the market.' The second is rapidly giving way to the purchase by bona-fide settlers. The third can only be left to time. But, at any rate,- if would 'be. undoubtedly to the benefit of the districtat large if some vigor were'shown this next summer in carrying on the road; It must be eventually a main outlet for the' Alfredton district, and would throughout, from the nature of the soil on either side, be an important arterial road. It is said that metal is scarce /ilong this line of road, I have "known three long stretches of road 1 which were languishing for want of metal, yet good metal was> in ; e^ch : ease found shortly after was offered

— .—— „ ' for it 3 discovery, Let tlio County,offer a reward, and fossikera will soon .drop on it, 1 have heard within the last few days of likely stuff having been found on Mr Dagg's property. The position is tliis, — Go aomo six miles out of Masterton, and there stretches from that point a.ijaq valley, 20 miles in length, with hills on one side, and easy grazing mns on tha other, yet at this present moment no .man can got reasonable access to it, .while Bettlement.is being pushed on in such faraway spots as Puketoi, or even the'head waters of the Waikato 1 It is just one of those cases where expenditure would be reproductive, as such expenditure would be simply an aid to the usefulness of the railway system, and of the road already constructed from here to the crossing of the Wangaehu: on the Upper Tauerußoad. , , ~,r 7( ,v am,:&c.y: V • A. J. Rawson.