CARNARVON.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 87, 18 August 1877, Page 3

CARNARVON.

" — -: : ■ ■ .. ■ ' ; P?Ebtt OUB OWN JCOBBESPOHTDENT.] ■: ' .-■'•'■ v ' •?'■'- "'■ ;^ ■ 9V In reading the different accounts >nd opinions by the' Feilding correspondents to the various papers re separation; one" would almost feel inclined to think that part of the County was cheated out of its dues right and left. Now, I am not going' to meddle 'with figures, but toshow that no such unanimity exists as theWellingtqn "Times' " correspondent makes out, I will just, say that irithe Kiwitea Hiding the feeling almost to a man is strongly opposed to separation. I can tell him that the settlers of the abov,e-named riding have no wish — nay, more, they dread to come under the despotic rule of a Manchester County, whose aim m dismemberment" is only to Bold absolute _sway within its limits ; a Council who would 'be composed of the servants of an absent Corporation, whose purpose is to make as much as possible out of the whole scheme, under the guise of an E. &C. Aid Society. I assure you that the Kiwitea 'settlers are quite intelligent^ enough to comprehend the financial distribution of the County, as also to the danger they are exposed to. In Feilding" and Halcombe matters are very similar, with one, very great difference — namely, that- the people j there arc -not free agents, they are sub- i ject t^Rie aversion of the Corporation agents, and therefore have but little' option but to sign a separation petition.' Those people know perfectly well that they are m their hands, and are power- . less, and that they will have little or ] nothing to say on any question affecting them. Let anyone passleisurely through these places, he will hear enough about suppression without soliciting any opinion. I speak only of the more intelligent portion of the community. The "Times' ' correspondent touched the vital part, that part on which the whole separation question is based, when he says : — " I think there is some founda* tion of truth . . . that had another gentleman been elected Chairman, &c." That's the sore spot ; but that m itself of course was too trivial on which to move for separation. About the greater official capacity, of which 'he further speaks, that's a matter of opinion. Your "Feilding own" follows pretty nearly m the wake of him of the " Times," and therefore this may suffice for his edification. However, there is no use m wrangling over it now, as petitions both for and against are afoot, and Parliament will have to decide the question. I notice that the survey of the township near the mouth of the river is making good progress under the ablestaflE of Mr Bundas, and we 'may l-*-»k forward ere long to see it soon m ihj market. The "weather here ha& now for sometime bs'Cii exceptionally fine ; we had souia very hard £i'O3te for several nights m succession, but tlluy hare given piace to milder nights. • August 14. I am afraid thnt the jnotto of a paper, -now extinct, I believe — " Wha! 'er men do, or say, or think, or dream, Ouv motley paper seize 3 for its theme" — n-ay well be applied to my letter. Things seem very quiet indeed at present ; what with the advancing Spring and the somewhat broken weather, we are all very busy with our farm work. Ploughing and sowing is'the order of the day, if nut for spring wheat or oats', then for pasture. It is, indeed, very satisfactory to notice the improvements going on all around, as compared with former years, • jor even so late as last year. Notwithstanding' the many difficulties with which settlers had and still have* to contend, they have now arrived so far that .every stroke, so to' say, tells ; -and if it were not for the dreadful state the roads are m, one could indeed ride or drive and enjoy the prospect around. Speaking of roads, I believe the settlers have requested the " Board ",to do something to the Tiverbank'line, and I can Qply corroborate what is said m the peti^j^ that the road m many places is next -to -.impassable. There is a great deal of traffic on this line now, despite its, bad condition, so that we hope the Board will only see the justness of the . request, and make it passable. Another . thing m immediate connection with -roads, is the notorious Sandon toJFoxton line. A gentleman, m a sort of wordy war through the medium of the Press, drew a faithful picture of the main road; and which holds still good m every feature. IHe said: — "The settlers waded, slushed, and jaded through mud, sand, and bogs, along our so-called main line." This is simply true to the letter at the present day. But really there is nothing to hinder the road' being made, so as to be passable m winter as well as m summer. It is looked upon that, without metal it is impossible to make it other than it is. Now I don't wish to set myself up as knowing better than the engineers, but I may be pardoned for taking facts as proof "that something can be done even without metal;" for instance, some eighteen months ago a few holes along the line were filled up, and many other repairs effected ; where this ;has been done -judiciously it is good to this day. The worst part I think is the first two miles from Mrs Campion's. The Council would not incur heavy expenditure if it would reform it, and as there is a crust of ironstone some- eight or nine inches thick,, and the drains' on either side, which are about ten feet wide, have been thrown out to the ironstone, nothing could be easier than to pick this out and, place it on top of the formation, which would then be little, short of a gravelled road, and nearly as good as the portion through the bush up to Sandon.- But I am much afraid, if sums are voted for the survey of a ' railway line, we may go slushing, &c, i till farther orders .^ * I Once more the railway scheme has

reached a point apprpa.ching fever heat bur frienl^s'in;' Sandon. This seems as periodicaras the ebb and flow of i^etide^wAysr^aching'its. culminating' poin^ incidental with the meeting of - Parliament. VOf course- the' outcome is" a petition, forwarded ,to "Wellington m with a deputation. I have, to close this' letter els' el miss- the train — I mean the post. '.■■■■•■