The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 84, 8 August 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1877.

The Wellington "Evening Post" of the 23rd ult., has an article strongly advocating the construction of a road from Foxton to Otaki. The principal reason given is that "The proposed road would render accessible the cream of the level land situated to the south of the Manawattr River and-at once render it available for sale, occupation and cultivation." So far from having any objection to offer to the proposed road wel should very much like to see it formed because we believe that it would materially benefit the immediately adjacent district. But if this is not a sufficiently strong reason we have none stronger to offer. That a road from Foxton to Otaki would open up the cream of the land South of,, the' Manawatu is simply not a fact. And if the Government, should be led to construct such a road for the sake of •opening up this territory they would very naturally conclude that any other road for the same purpose would be unnecessary, and hence would give effect both to a blunder and an injustice. For the good that a road line between Foxton and Otaki would do, we are quite willing to second and uphold any action that I may be taken for procuring it. But at.the same time it should be understood that fo adequately open up the district South of the Manawatu a , road is required further inland than the one proposed. A road has already been commenced, starting from the Manawatu Bridge near Palmerston. This is connected with the Kangitikei line and if continued on towards Wellington would form an arterial road right through the Manawatu District. Upon the continuation of this road South of the Manawatu River mainly depends the development of the territory m that direcIt is patent to aiiy one who : will glance at the map that this, rp^d, taking as it does a central direction, ! would be of more general utility to the Manawatu^district than could "be any road that merely skints the coast. A. gentle.man beloi^ging to the survey Jstaffi ( wlip is sufficiently familiar the district* to be an authority on this point says that no person who has not been through the territory South of the Manawatu JEliver can have any conception of the splendid land that would be opened up by a road from Palmerstpn to Waikanae. The quality of th^ land is excellent, and there are. belts pi totara and other valuable timber sumcient to keep fifty mills m b.peration between this place and Wellington. .OBut.yWe dp not suppose: that th^re should or will.be any. choice -^between the twp roads referred to, or that their respective claims should m any way be considered cpmpetitory. The reasons for making the one are not : and: cannot be the reasons for making the other. The' coapt road is- required for the convenience of ;-$Ke : coast townships and settlers, and^^the. inland road must be formed before one oltheTichest tracts m the country can be adequately utilized. Our' only reason for; mentioning the /-two, m connection is to, correct, a yery' r grave error that the\ -writ^Rin, the "Post" has made,; an error; ;to mislead by creating the idea that ; the coast roaid v/ill perform the impossible feat of; opening up a region that it will not penetrate. * We shall probablyi>efer to the matter again at no distant ! date.- I :■;■■'■ ■.' . '■:;. ' ■■■■ ■ - ;; - ; ' : " r ■