THE RAGLAN AND WAIPA ROAD.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 657, 5 August 1876, Page 2

THE RAGLAN AND WAIPA ROAD.

The subject of the Kagian and Waipa Koad has been bq£oro the public Petitions Committee, aud the evidence of Mr Cox, &s taken by the Committee, is now before us. We have not space for the whole, but purpose to lay before our readers the gist of the evidence taken. Mr Cox staed under examination that he had himself travelled this road, and that it was about the worst road he had ever seen ; it could not possibly bij worse. In the Public Works Statemnt of 1372 it had been stated that this road had been provided for, but the work had never been undertaken, the native difficulty having been adduced by the Government as a reason. In reply to the question from Mr Reynolds, who asked, " Don't you think now that it would be far better that this road should be formed by the county, if the coimty is going to receive certain fund-, from the General Government ?" We Bod Mr C>x decidedly disagreeing with any such proposal, which is akin to the reply given to the deputation anent the Hamilton bridge. Mr Cox said, " I was not aware that there was a county in existence. It *ould be exceedingly fair to say that the land should make the roaJ if there were no other means forthcoming, but I should feel inclined to say elsewhere, that as the roai was provided for in 1872, and the nat've difficulty given as the only reason for not constructing it, now that the native difficulty no longer exists it should be proceeded with." And our readers will, we think, agree with Mr Cox As ho pointed out, this road i* absolutely required |if tho Government is to keep faith with the many smill settlers to whom land has been sold, cither abutting upon it or to be opened up by it ; and as it would be the high roai f<o n Waikito to all that country spoken of as tho RngUn country. A «ura of £1,000, said Mr Cox, would be <iuffic : cnt to make it a good passable road, sufficient for dray traffic, and much su cnor to ni.tny roads he had seen in the Colony. There was, lie said, some 7,000 or 8,000 acres of Provincial land, some of it of excellent quality, lying utterly useless s<> long as the road remained unmade and the proceeds of such land might fairly be applied to the work, and would be sufficient to carry it out wiihout involving the Colo ly in further cast. We are glad to find the member for Waipa taking this opportunity of redeeming pledges made during his election tour, and trust that in other equnlly important matters he will be found fulfilling tho expectatations of those who sent him to the House.