INLAND COMMUNICATION.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1231, 24 November 1874, Page 2

INLAND COMMUNICATION.

The Inangahua Herald gives full report of interviews between the Eoad Board and other local bodies and the Provincial Secretary The subjects discussed were mainly of local interest with the exception of inland communication. From the remarks made thereon are culled the following items : Mr Oxley asked what were the intentions of the Government with regard to the road between Squaretown and the Grey Junction. A few miles of bad road had had the effect of doubling the rates of cartage on a line of traffic measuring 50 miles. He thought it very bad policy to spend immense sums of money in the Upper Buller to attr.in very small results, when a comparatively small expenditure would extend very important benefits. The Provincial Secretary replied that a good deal of misconception had arisen as to the sums being expended in that quarter. They had in fact let a contract for c£liOo. Mr Oxley repeated'that this district would gladly see a road through from Westport, and the Grey i?oad completed; the latter work not costing more than £BOOO, which would connect 70 miles of country with the seaboard. The Provincial Secretary feared that no money would be available, unless, perhaps, £IOOO to repair the present road.

Mr Oxley said that £IOOO would be of no use to repair what had no existence. The Provincial Secretary meant only the worst places. The road on the Buller side was very important, as it would open up country which could then be disposed of, but the work would prove so costly that they would have to sell a large block of land in the Lower Buller to provide funds fur the work. Ho estimated that a road from the Hope to the Often would cost £9OOO, from the Owen to the [/yell, £10,000 ; from the Lyell to the Inangahua Junction, £9000; and the construction of ' the gaps in the Lower Buller would more than absorb the balance. He trusted, however, if the land sales proved a success that the Government would be able to apportion something to the Grey road. Mr Brennan referred to the necessity of something being done to the Squaretown and Little Grey road. It appeared to him that the Government had been fully alive to the advantage of making the votes of Council retrospective, aud by once more adopting the system they would be enabled to carry out some of the works required. The Provincial Secretary suggested that the Boatman's track vote would enable a contract to be let for repairs and maintenance of the Buller road