THE Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1879. THE WEST COAST ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 75, 20 May 1879, Page 2

THE Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1879. THE WEST COAST ROAD.

The resolution proposed by Mr Kebbell in the County Council regarding the road from Foxton to Waikanae, is one of considerable importance. It asks the General Government to place upon the Estimates the sum of £12,000 to complete the road. As our readers are aware, the portion between Foxton and Otaki is at present being constructed, and provided no delay arises from native interference, should be completed in the course of twelve or eighteen months. When that section is completed, a great improvement will have been effected in the •• way " between Manawatu and Wellington. There will still be, however, a a large tract of beach road from the Otaki Township to the foot of the Paikakariki Hill. A large portion of this would be cut off by the construction of the inland road from Otaki to Waikanae. Upon this point, Mr Halcombe spoke forcibly in the Council, pointing out that the West Coast still possesses no better means of communication with Wellington, than that Nature has furnished along the beach. Yet between the beach and the Tararua RaDge lies a vast track of splendid country, available for settlement, and capable of carrying a very large population. This could be opened in the first place by roads far better, we think, than by a railway. No doubt a lino of railway will be made th-rough it sooner or later, but we hold that a line of road would be more calculated to induce settlement than the railway. A further advantage that would result from the construction of the road, would be, as was pointed out, the facility it would give for reaohing tho proposed line of railway, lessening its cost considerably. Mr Kebbell stated that the land through which the proposed line of road would pass was almost entirely in the hands of the Government, so that no difficulty need be anticipated from native intsrf erence. It is just possible that the largeness of- the sum asked for by the Council may frighten the Colonial Treasurer, bat half a loaf is better than none, and if the whole cannot be obtained, we must be content with a portion, hopiug th&t next year a further vote may be obtained. We would suggest that the Borough Council of Wellington should be asked to co-operate with the West Coast Councils in this matter. The capital is vitally interested in the growth of the outlying portions of the Provincial District, and it is almost certain ttat the Mayor and Council of Wellington would gladly co-operate in bringing before the Government the importance of the vote asked for.