WAIKAIA BUSH PETITION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 916, 7 November 1879, Page 3

WAIKAIA BUSH PETITION.

The following 13 jl copy u. petition that n now going through the lower portion of Vincent County for signatures : ■’To the Honourable Colonial Secretary, “The memorial of the undersigned residents of Vincent County and the Borough of A lexandra “ Humbly Shewoth “I.—That our present supply of timber is principally obta : ned from Tapanui, but ■he cost of carriage is so great, being about double the original cost of the timber, that it enhances its value to such an extent as to he absolutely prohibitory to the starting of new industries, and the prosperity o1 those industries already established is injuriously affected by the heavy ,ost of the material necessary tor carrying them on, “2.—That at the Waikaia Bush there exists a splendid supply of timber which could be delivered in the Southern division of Vincent County within three days from the time of leaving the bush, but in consequence of there being no road the timber las never been available for use, and a ■aluable forest which is capable of fu'-nish-■•g a supply of timber to the district fur 1 any years is being gradually destroyed by :r es which occur nearly every spring, cased through the careless practice of bring the grass ; and the fact that no one 'ns any special interest in the conservation d the timber prevents the practice being shacked.

" 3,—That in reply to a memorial on the subject the late Provincial Government instructed the District Surveyor to report on the bush, and make a flying survey of the road ; and acting on his report the Pnovincial Council voted the sum of L2OOO for the purpose of carrying out the work, but owing to the abolition of Provinces the money was not expended and the vote lapsed ; and your memorialists have no doubt that had the Provincial Government remained in power the work would have been carried out; but situate as the bush is on the extreme boundary of three different Counties possessing diverse interests, your memorialists have no hope of the work now being done unless by the assistance of the General Government.

“Your memorialists therefore respectfully request that yon will cause to be placed on the Estimates a sum of money for the purpose of forming a road from the Waikaia Bush to the main road between Roxburgh and Alexandra, behoving that by the consequent reduction in the price of timber a most beneficial effect would be produced on the fanning, mining, and commercial interests of the district. “And your memorialist will ever pray.”