CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1098, 20 May 1863, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOE OP THE IYTTELTON TIMES. Sir,—The correspondence carried on in your columns by your Timaru correspondents, might be very amusing to themselves, but I fear it will neither convey information to the public, nor afford data upon which our Timaru Road Board could amend their ways. When the first settlers arrived at Timaru they had no prejudices; they would as soon settle on the Government land as on Rhodes' township, provided they could procure equally suitable sites for carrying on their business. Upon inspection, finding Rhodes' town the most convenient place for landing cargo, they of course selected the most available sections adjoining, and built their stores thereon, and drays had to cross and re-cross deep and very bad gullies to get to their stores, and bullock teams frequently stuck in their attempt to reach them. The residents of this district quietly bore all those inconvenciences, they " thought times would mend," but the formation of theLyttelton and Christchurch Railway awoke them from their torpor, as they thought those towns would, unless checked, absorb the whole revenue of the Canterbury province. The public meeting that was held in Mr. LeCren's store, fully proved Timaru was worth preserving as an integral portion of the province. A conciliatory policy was adopted. Money was voted for roads to open up the district, and after mature deliberation, it was deemed of primary importance to form and metal the road running from Timaru to Washdyke, as it would secure a thoroughfare to Arowenua bush, and supply timber and firewood. Then it was necessary to keep open the communication via LeCren's store by beach to Timaru hotel, the overhanging cliffs frequently falling and blocking up the way. It is done in a "workmanlike-manner, and the resident inhabitants will confirm my statement that it is a public convenience. Then we have a place of Worship, the

church, which lays at the back of the South road, among the tussocks. There is a proclamation warning us not to set fire to the grass, as in dry weather it is very dangerous; in winterly weather it won't burn. Our grumblers I hope will agree with me that on Sundays it is not very comfortable during the winter months, to wade through those tussocks and get wet; it is an ordeal which I fear we should be all too prone to decline. " Saurian " appears to think there is a good section by the Government Reserve Market-place, and that the Road Board have misappropriated public money, because they had not levelled in a gully to render it convenient for the purchaser to build a house thereon. The Editor of the ' Lyttelton Times coincidesand agrees, but I will not do you the injustice to believe you have given the subject any consideration. I have seen many drays upset by deviating only a few feet on turning the curve or corner by our new Club-house. I can assure those in authority that they may rely upon the public to support them in filling up such dangerous places. Contracts are now taken for forming and metalling tlie Eoad through Timaru to Saltwater Creek, and when the critics build on their sections in Government town to carry on trade with the community, they will be liberally treated, and have roads made to their own doors. As it will be unfair to favor one critic in preference to another, I hope the Road Board will persevere in their present course, and lay out the money in opening up the main thoroughfares, and to the " termini" or places of public resort. I remain, sir, Your most obedient servant, THOS. FRENCH. Timaru, May 13,1863.