TE ORE ORE-BIDEFORD ROAD EXTENSION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2081, 29 August 1885, Page 2

TE ORE ORE-BIDEFORD ROAD EXTENSION.

[To the Editor.] Sir. —As the report of the discussion at the last meeting of the County Council on the petition praying for an extension of tho Te Ore Oro-Bideford main road, of necessity gives only a very inadequate idea to outsiders, I would crave a small space in your columns to supplement the report, as well as my own reasons for differing from Or'Hawkins' motion as originally worded.' I explained at the" time, and I still affirm, that I have no objections, on the contrary, quite approve of the proposal that the Engineer should report on this extension; but i did object to a report .on, the comparative merits of the Te Ore Oro—Bideford and Wangaehu Valley roads for the opening up of the 6astern side of the Puketoi Block; henco my. .amendment, which'l subsequently withdrew, on Or flawkinß agreeing to exoisethe words " comparative merits" from the motion. I also explained that •had the words "Eastern' Puketoi" been Puketoi," my objections- would have been toacertain extentremoved. Any.perSon with a knowledge of the two routes, and then to contrast the merits of these, for. the purpose of opening up, I may say one owner, of the.Puketoi shews to me at lent thai.Or Hawkinrhu not given to

thi» ;jnait?r the ,<ibnsideMon ; it deserved,' or that he has not made himself sufficiently acquainted with_fcho Pukotoi gcnor.-illy. Itsurprised'moaVtHe timo. .and I have yet to learn what the Wangaehu Valley : Road has ih'common with the extension proposed. The Wangaehu route serves a large country all the way to Alfredton, - and must of necessity, sooner, or later be completed, independently altogether of the Puketoi country; At the same time, j from my knowledge of this part of the country, I have no hesitation in asserting that, as a; road, the Wangaehu must necessarily, from- its directness.. to Mastertpn, serve a very large portion of the Puketoi country. ..As. respects, however, the extension from Bideford to tap tho Eastern Puketoi, I am not in a position to say. My acquaintance with that portions of the country lying beyond the settled portion, does not warrant my expressing an opinion, and "therefore! am quite satisfied to await the Engineer's report, as with everything else, opinions differ on the subject., It may be imagined, and naturally soj by persons not sufficiently acquainted with this district, thrt I, in common with the other settlers, have a particularly personal interest in the Whangaehu route. Well, once upon a time, no doubt, the Bettlers had; but that day is passing, and we are likely no longer to depend on the Wangaehu; but knowing what ultimately must baits usefulness as a County road, we.iire naturally jealous of what has the least semblance of giving it the cold shoulder, What 1' wish is that the proposed extension should stand or fall oil its own merits, without reference to the Wangaehu or any other route. ;

_As for distance, one thiiig Tknow, and of whioh l can speak from my knowledge of the district,' is that the Wangaohu route taps unsettled-country iii the far-famed Puketoi at 30 miles from Mastertonj and I shall be surprised to hear that the other route can bear comparison.;; in respect, . ' 1 I must crave your indulgence/ sir, for trespassing on your space to such an extent. 1 am, &e., Chas, Macquarrie, . Alfredton, 25th August 1885.