New Plymouth Dec. 20/70. My Dear Sir, As I was going south with Mr. Gisborne, I met Mr. Blackett on the road, consequently I had but a very short conversation with him about road works, but he had several days to go into the matter with O. Carrington whilst here and left him general instructions, part of which I do not agree with - your first instructions were to make the road 20 feet wide which is quite ample for present use and for some time to come, and more especially with a railway in prospective, and anything done now beyond the width necessary for present traffic will be a waste of expenditure, as the extra width on which there will be no travelling will soon be grown over again and a great deal of the work thrown away. I have told Carrington so merely as my opinion, but not to interfere with his instructions from Mr. Blackett which he is going to act upon, and left yesterday for the south to visit the different contract parties in order to make the alterations. With reference to Mr. P. Wilsons application for a lease of some land. It is for Flax land next to the Opunake Companys block which was applied for officially in May last by Standish and Hammerton on behalf of P. Wilson and C. Brown, who wanted to form a Company. I would rather nothing was done in the matter until the road is carried which is now looking favourable. Excuse haste as I am writing late for Mail. Yours Faithfully, R. Parris.