ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIII, Issue 1165, 30 October 1896, Page 5

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

• « : — ■■ ,■ s. t! -. EOAD MAKING IN THE CATLINS - DISTRICT. ■'■

TO THE EDITOB. ' "'•'_[ : Sir,— Any one who has lived any time in this district must have observed the strange 1 whims and fancies of the chief surveyoY for altering roads even after considerable sums of money has been spent on them; as: was the case at Ashmore's, Lake Side', and at Burnt Plat. The 'chief is also celebrated for making roads where nobody lives, most noteable the. one to Jack's Bay where there isno, one Irving nor likely to be for many years ; also. for allowing roadlines where settlers have ; lived for years, to remain unimproved. His latest whim is to remove the road from the side of the Catlins Lake where it would get r both, sun and wind (the best road makers in i the country) and take it through swamps and : heavy bush where the cost will be three times: S as much per mile to make it and would be a sludge channel nine months out of the 12. He has spent large sums of public money to . have bush felled alongside of roads so as to let the sun and wind to them and now where he has everything to be" wished for in that respect he wants to change the road and take it about half a mile where it is intended at some future date to erect a bridge. Settlers should take the matter in hand and not allow the alteration to be made as it is against the best interests of the district. If any alteration is necessary the Government ought to purchase a chain on the frontage and leave the bush on the present road standing to protect the bank. — I am, &c. Ratanui.