NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 137, 6 August 1881, Page 3

NORMANBY.

(from our own correspondent.)

Friday, August 5.

The authorities are at last beginning to take some notice of the repeated remonstrances about the state of the road leading past Mr. Beresford's store to the atation ; and it is to be considerably raised, so as to do away the severe grade at the corner. This is a step in the right direction, and shows that it is recognised that the road cannot remain as it is. But this will not satisfy settlers here. What is required is that the road should be taken behind the station, so as to join the old road, without having to travel about 200 yards to cover a distance of twenty yards ; and doubtless combined pressure will bring the authorities into a fit state of mind to make this alteration also.

The comparatively fine weather the last few days has slightly improved the streets in the township, but they are still in a very bad condition, and a Town Board is wanted badly. As there are considerably more than the requisite number of houses, it is to be hoped that a start hi this direction will soon be made. One drawback to it is the unwillingness of one or two men who hold land touching on the township (and in one case land with several buildings on) to bring their sections under the Board. The advantage of it to themselves, as well as to all others, is so great that it seems strange they are not willing to lend a hand to help the formation of a Board. The weekly dances at the Town Hall are still very fairly attended, and are exceedingly pleasant little meetings, doing more than anything else to enable people to meet and have a few merry hours.

Business people here, and settlers at Okaiawa, are anxious to know whether the Waimate Boad Board will be able to do anything to improve the road from from Okaiawa to the river; and it is hoped that the Hawera Road Board will spend a little money to form the road on this side, and prevent the bridge from being next to usoless. "Every argument about the necessity of the road, and the number of people that would travel it can be used here. It is the nearest line , from Manaia to Normanby, the only one from Okaiawa and the bush settlement towards Te-Ngutu-o-te-manu, and the formation of the road would divert a large quantity of heavy traffic, especially timber, from the main coast road. Normanby is peculiarly unfortunate in the matter of roads ; there is not a single good one either in the township or leading from it, and the Hawera Road Board will in this case be only doing justice if they meet the wishes of Normanby ratepayers.