(To the Editor of the Waikato Times.)

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 334, 4 July 1874, Page 2

(To the Editor of the Waikato Times.)

Sir, — The Waikato Time* having repeatedly called attention to the state of the ro id from Raglan to V^aikato, perhaps you may consider the-accompanying copy of a. letter to the Commissioner of Waikato of sufficient publio interest to merit publication. At one- time we were told that ' Todds line ' leading to Alexandra was to be made,-al> another that 'Efeaphy's line' to Komokoriki, ev«n yet more circuitous wa» to be comroonced, while the short direct line via Ko Orangi it not even examined by our engineers. The making of this road is all in all- to this lone; neglected district which has not had one farthing of the Vogel loans expended upon it, and to those not in the secret it is strange fehnfc the present; road i» far longer and in worse repair than was the track in use twenty-one years ago. There is even .the absurd 1 supposition that our surveyors are jealous of Maori skill, forgetting that Maori knowledge of the passes has been acquired during generations,, and that our military engineers admit that; the beautiful fortifications of Piko Flko and Fa Tiknngi taught them a lesson. The making of this road is ofcoimderabla interest to Wmiknto. To many of the ruing generation the sea muit be only a name, for they have not seen it, and wereathort cart road made to Whata Wliata, we should in summer have many visitors fbr »ea bathing and fishing. And a market would tie found' for the delicious fall of Baglan harbour, which are io superior to tliose ofltho East Coast. — T arn, &c, J. C. JOHNSTOEE. Te Harote, Baglon, June 30, 1874.

•' Te Harote, Raglan, •• January 27, 1874 "Sir, — The Brevity of your visit to Raglan hating prevented my waiting upon you, I have the honor to address you on the subject of the proposed Waipa rood. My apology for troubling you is, that T am the oldest European resident bore ; have always taken an interest in the subject, and have paid even more money for land than any other perion in the district, and I may- add, the hope that if the contemplated road be made, it may in somo degree restore the value of property in this distriofc Mduood to nonentity by the war and subsequent neglect. " There are six known tracts from Raglan to Waipa :—: — No, 1, via Karnkariki ; No. 2, vi& Knrakariki ; No. 3, vial Ko Uoo ; No. 4, viA Ko Orangi; No. 5, via Ko Te Rua 'Harare ; No. 6, via- Toki Hou-hou. i{ " No. 1, Paises this houie, it th« shortest wad, but could not be made passable for wheeled carriages. " No. 2. Surveyed by Major Heapby more than twojetrs ago> is forbiddingly circuitous, bridges required very numerous, and 1 was, and is objeoted to by the Ilau-hau natives. " No. 3. This was the road in use in 1853 ; it a considerably shorter nnd better line than the present, there were few bridges, but it fill into disuse, became at the present it crosses the Waitetuna river. A bridge of one span could not be built by Maoris. " No. 4. Those Maoris- b«tt acquainted with the aountry assert that this is the most practicable pass for a cart road. In the yenr 1867, tny neighbour and friend the chief Te Watene, Waitetuna, consented to make a cart; road 1 by this pass for £200. I strongly recommended the matter to the notice of Governor Colonel Thomas Brown, among other reasons urging the necessity of the road from a military point of view. In reply I was informed that His Eicelleuoy regretted that there were no funds available for the purpose. In 1859 the Maoris at my request again consented to mako .this road, but would not accept less than £600 for the work* .'Hi* Honpr J\ Williamson, Esq,,' Superintendent, kindly ibbjibed tihe money on tbe-eitimates,*mit during my temporary •absence from' Raglan in March, 1859, his Honor visited Riiglhn* and was persuaded by some of the resident* that it • would be more for the interest of the place (and themselves) to/ build bridges ofl sawn timber in the settlement. His Honor consented, and they built two- and a half bridges. WJ^at would have Been fcfie value'of the proposed road in ■ 18G0'63-64 it is difficult to estimate. " No. S is said to be the second best pass. " No. 6. Th« present road was opened about; eighteen years ago to enable the Maoris to build a bridge of one span across the Waitetuna river. The hill is steep and tlio limestone cropping out mako it more slippery than No. 3 line, while the bridges ore more numerous and the road ssvoral miles longer. "Among the natives acquainted with the passes- are Hakopo Te Ngori, residing at Whata Whata, and Wi Atene, at Tattapaunui, near Raglan, and I would suggest that the passos be examined hufore a line be decided on. — I have, <fee, ' "J. C Joh/N3TO>b. , "J. Mnckay, Jun.,Bsq., " Commissioner, Waikato-""