OPENING UP CROWN LANDS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15488, 14 December 1910, Page 10

OPENING UP CROWN LANDS

♦ ASHLEY GORGE-SXOWDALE ROAD. The North Canterbury correspondent of the " Lyttelton Times" writes:— In neeognition of the reasonableness of the Oxford ratepayers' protest against being called upon to subsidise a £SOO grant on the Public Works Estimates tor loading the Upper Ashley Valley and hills, all Crown lands, the Government placed £SOO on the Supplementary Estimates as a straight out, unconditional grant in lieu oF a subsidy. This will permit of the Ashley Gorge-Snoirdale Road construction being continued during next winter. The grant leaves £SOOO still required to complete the read, and it is hoped that the Oxford Road Board, with the aid of the parliamentary representatives interested in the district, will bo able to induce the Government to vote the amount in one sum, in order to have the road open for vehicular traffic at as early a date as possible, to prepare for the settlement of the land when the leases expire. Dobsou's Road, now being subsidised by the Ashley. Road Board and the Government, is a. very necessary work of development, and botli roads will materially help production and advance Oxford and Rangiora. Dobscn's Road runs for a considerable portion of its length through freehold Midland Railway land, and the Government expected a local contribution. The case is quite different from that of the Ashley-Snow-dale Road, which is a new road through Crown land, and should therefore be constructed by the Government. Its maintenance would, of course, be provided for out of rates. When the road is completed 80,000 acres of land will be within easy reach of .the railway and markets, "and will be ready for closer settlement.