THE CRY FOR ROADS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue LXXVI, 1 July 1908, Page 7

THE CRY FOR ROADS.

ISOLATED SETTLERS. IN THE WANGANUI BACKBLOCKS. About a dozen settlers from the WaiOtarino district, headed by Mr. A. E. Bemington, M.P., waited on the Hon. ?as. M'Gowan to-day and placed before nim the urgent need for improving and jompleting some of the alleged roads in jhe district about 30 miles inland from Wanganui. For years past, Mr. RemJngton explained, these settlors hava peen struggling along without adequate assistance from the Government in making roads. Mr. D. Ross, chairman of the District Road Board, confined his attention to what is known as Bartons-road, leading aver Aberfeldie-hill. This hill is four miles long, and it is impossible to take Anything but- the smallest loads with the strongest teams over it. The place is 24 miles from Wanganui, and the-set-tlers are anxious to Tiave a deviation of J;he present road constructed. It is esiimated that the work will cost £2400, md the settlers are, willing to rate ihemselves for half the amount. The settlers at present pay a road board rate of gel in tho £ and a county rate 5f id in the £. Mr. M'Gowan : Don't you think you tre losing time? There are men who *hould be on their farms making money. Mr. George Mcc, as spokesman for *nother section of the deputation, asked ihat the Government should help to complete the Upokonui-road in tha Tauakira .ilock. At present one and three-quarter miles of the road is merely a six feet bridle track. Mr. M'Gowan. : Do you think you are justified in asking for this when you are anly rated at fd in the £? Mr. Mcc : This is Government land. It was taken up eight years ago, andj the gap in tho road still remains. No less than 17,000 sheep are now shorn an the block. Most of the sheep-own-3rs prefer to drive their sheep out and nave 'them shorn in a more accessible place owing to the difficulties connected with transport. There is only v fl, six-foot irack, and each winter it gets worse md worse. We simply can't afford to faise the money to do the work. Another speaker pointed out that Govirnment had spent money in roading Jiative lands, while roads to Ciown land in the" district had been neglected. The Minister admitted that this was cot just. He could only say 1 that the requests would receive due consideration. Tho Government would have to determine what works would be proceeded with first. They would do the oest they could under the circumstances, but ha could make no definite! promises.

Up to the present time the following nominations have been received for the vacancies on thp Wellington .Education Board:— City, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, M.P. ; Wairarapa, Mr. Brown, of Masjerton ; Manawatu-llatt. Captain M'Douald and Mr. A. J. M'Curdy. A new motor delivery and collection van has just been furnished to the Government for the Royal Mail tervice by Messrs. Magnus, Sanderson, and Co., 3f Wellington. It is made by the Gan»da Motor Cycle Company, a£d kno-nn as a Russell Automobile mail van. The secretary of the Post, Office (Mr. D. Rofcertson) has already had a trial spin in the new car. The features of the car include magneto and accumulation iglition in order to reduce the risk of itoppage so far as the sparking is con:erned; tank capacity, permitting tha ar to run from 200 to 300 miles without leplenishing ; Swinehart solid tyres, renoving all possibility of delay by punciure, and with special springs to ease hock to thft car itself ■when on bumpy cads. The body is a, fine piece of coachmilding, painted a royal mail scarlet aid having the Royal cypher oa the panels. The cubic space provided for jarriage of mail matter measures 85 feet. ?he engines are what is known as the wo cylinder type giving 18 horse powerChe car will be the first of its kind to »c used by the Government for the image of mails.