THE DASHWOOD PASS ROAD.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 235, 11 June 1870, Page 3

THE DASHWOOD PASS ROAD.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, —Judging from the debate in the Provincial Council on Thursday on the Roads Act, very erroneous ideas seem to exist as to the route from the Awatere to the Wairau through Dashwood’s Pass. Some members apparently imagined that only two stations—viz., Dumgree and Starborough—would benefit by increased proximity to a port. A few figures will show that all those whose wool come down the Awatere will gain. The distance from Mr C. Redwood’s shipping place to Mr Atkinson’s station is seven miles ; from Mr Atkinson’s to Templeton’s three miles, making the total distance ten miles, and this over an almost level road. The distance from Templeton’s to Blenheim is sixteen miles ; I need not allude to the gradients Of course, to the stations lower down the valley than Templeton’s, and to travellers in general, the saving would be even greater. The distance from Starborough to Mr Atkinson’s is two and a half miles; then to Mr C. Redwood’s seven miles; four miles further brings a traveller to Blenheim. Thus the total distance from Star-

borough to Blenheim, tin the Dashwood Pass, is thirteen and a half miles ; the present route, via Templeton’s, is twenty-one and a half miles. Besides the advantage of a great saving in distance, the ford below Starborough station is always good, and is passable even in high floods ; and can frequently be crossed by a man on foot, when the ford at Templeton’s can hardly bo crossed dry by one on horseback. 1 need not do more, than allude to the great advantages, as regards saving in tear and wear of road, of drays and horses, which a level road possesses over one surmounting a high pass, where every heavy rain turns wheel ruts into water courses, and necessitates incessant repairs. Everyone who uses the Taylor Pass road cannot but notice its unsatisfactory state ; and must remark that the repairs and alterations effected in the road, only towards the end of the last wool season arc already shewing signs of requiring renewed patching ; and so it will ever be unless a far larger sum is expended on it than would complete the Dashwood Pass road. I am, &c., A WAT ERE.