THE FORTY-MILE BUSH ROAD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2044, 17 July 1885, Page 2

THE FORTY-MILE BUSH ROAD.

A refutation consisting of Messrs G. Beetham'; W,. Q. Buchanan, M.ILR's, and T. Mackay, Gounty Ghijinnan, waited on the Minister of Public Works yesterday to bring under his notice tho state of the Forty-mile Bush road. TJie deputation pointed out that the road was in such bad condition as to be almost impassable in places for wheel traffic, and that, if stops were not immediately taken, .tho' coach and mails would in all pi'oliabilityle' 'atoppeij,' Attention was dra\yn to the fact that the §taj;e of the road was largely due to the excessive traffic caused by tho railway construction. Mr Maokay submitted a detailed estimate, showing that a sum of £2700 was required to keep the road in order for the current year. Large expense had beon incurred on the line through last year's floods, and the bridges also having been originally built of Inferior timber, had to be renewed. Of the £2050 previously, voted, £1650 had bben received'by the County, leaving a balance yet to come from the Government of £IOOO. Of this; balance £!H4 had been already pledged by the Council for contracts,'and it was requested that that this sum (£1000) be revoted in addition to the £2700 for , the current year. The' Hon. Mr Richardson said that

in the face of tho'financial proposals of the. Government'haying:; been cut down, lie could hold out 'but .little hope of thi? large sum being vsted, but thought that the sum of £IOOO, balance of last year's vote, would be available. He would,However, give the question attention. The deputation urged the' necessity of' this' road, which was a colonial one," being kept in good order, particularly as it was a considerable factor in assisting to settle the Crown Lands in its vicinity, and also, that the traffic was daily increasing, and would no doubt aontinue to do so, especially now the Manawatu River was brigded. The deputation having thanked the Minister, withdrew.