THE ROADLESS NORTH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 14

THE ROADLESS NORTH.

Sir,—There is nothing so heart-break-ing as to be partnership with indiiference, as it means failure. Eleven years ago a number of settlers look up laud in the Awaroa Valley, and a road—the Awa-roa-Mahoc— was promise! to tlicm to bo oompleted within two years. Time went on, and two years passed without anything ' being done, the settlers in tho meantime having to wade up a river-bed. But the more, trying time was to come. Some had not fenced, expecting to havo tho road shortly made, and the turnip crop was eaten* by neighbouring stock. Thaw tliat had fenced had them smashed down, as the Government thought fit to put a Gft. track, and tho timber that was in the way was rolled down on the j fence. Since then a few chains have been added each year, and only last year was the lqst pieco of bush felled, and the road (Bffc. wide) completed. Then pieces of widening were commenced; pieces of a mile or so wero done, leaving tho Cft. track in between, that by this time had slipped to a bridle track; and at tho present time there aro places were it is not safe to take a packhorsc 1 round. The money that has been wasted in surveying and rcsurveying would havo | completed the road.- Each year n sum is voted, but it goes to make a surplus at election time. Last year .£SOO was handed over to the council—the Government to supervise the plans. They are still supervising, and nothing has Ix-cn dono. Notwithstanding that last year we had to pack or sledge, or in some way get over one hundred bales of wool away as well as gettins stores, etc. If wo write they say; "Wo wiH give it our earnest consideration." What do the Government care that it costs us twice as much for our store?, tliat the read? aro impassable at the time wo want to take our stock out. that during the winter montlis tlic settlers' wivesaro prisoners? It is tho more irritating because it is the road from Waitono Caves to tho Kawliia Harbonr, and it is a splendid tourist route. We havo promised to metal the road if they will finish tho widening. As things are conducted now a man has lost tho best years of his lifo before tho road is finished. A large block of land, that this rend will serve, is to be put on the market shortly. It is absolutely nec>>=<sary that it should bo completed without any further delay. Tho Prime Minister made the excuse that they could not get labour: yet after starting several small contract's t.liey stopped them, and as the men had not timo to mako enough money to pay tho storekeeper they had to suffer". It is time that the same law that applies to town land should he for tho country; That no land should bo put on tho market before the road is comploted. I shall be pleased to send yen photos showing the stato of roada here, if you care to publish them.—l am, etc., SETTLER. [We shall be glad to see the photographs.]