THE CRY FOR ROADS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8923, 8 September 1905, Page 5

THE CRY FOR ROADS.

PLEA BY BACK-BLOCK SETTLERS.

For some time past Mr F. Cooper has been strenuously urging upon the member for the district', and the Minister for Public Works, the necessity for the construction of various properties across the Patea river from Hawera. In consequence of the representations made Mr Major, M.H.R., wrote to the lion. Hall-Jones as follows : —

'. "I write to urge upon you to take some steps to enable the settlers, Messrs Quin, Douglas, _Cooper, Larcom, and others, to gain access to their property across the Patea river from "Hawera. They have taken up their land, and have, felled and grassed more of it than the Act requires. At the present time it takes jiearly. two days to travel -20 miles. This is one of the instances that causes scandals to be raised and circulated" against the" Government's administration of Crown lands -for settlement. I -write to you just as much, in the interest of the Government as in the interests of these " unfortunate men, who have been waiting, for. some four or five years for some sort of a track to reach I their selections. The -Mabin road should be made into a reasonable track across the~ gorges even, say from 3 to 6. feet wide. I urge you with the full understanding and appreciation of" the- sufferings and hardships that these unfortunate pioneers are undergoing, by reason oi not being able to obtain even a rough, mean* — of _ access to- their" sections the-Govern-ment marketed, " and" that they in good faith took • up, thinking that the Govern- , pient would keep its promife, and. tako ..steps > to give them some sort of_a neces-' • sary road or track to enable them to fulfil the conditions upon . which .they took 1 th» land up." In reply to the above letter the Hon. Hall-Jones wrote .saying that the matter would have his earnest consideration; and ■with a view to- this he was having en"qujries 1 hi~&}? into the matter. "