THE ROAD TO TARANAKI BY AWAKINO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9735, 4 February 1895, Page 3

THE ROAD TO TARANAKI BY AWAKINO.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —You copy a short; extract from ft Wellington paper re the Awakino Road, which says that " the clearing and formation of the road to connect the Taranaki and Auckland districts is being pushed on with such vigour that it is expected that it will be open for atockdriving before next session." I wish this was so. The fact is that the work baa nob been started. The road was surveyed two years ago, and nothing has been done since except to leb a contract for two bridges now being erected, and we are afraid that the two votes voted last session of £2000 and £15C0 for this road are bo be allowed bo lapse, and so go to lessen the deficit. Messrs. Lawry and Smith were banqueted for. having at lasii got money enough voted to make a road that it would be safe at least to ride over between Mew Plymouth and Auckland, and that is the last we have heard of it till a Wellington paper tells us it is being pushed on with vigour. Where ? Do Auckland people realise that it is stHl impossible to ride from Auckland to Taranaki without going round by Wbanganui or doing a Bessie Doyle trip five miles a day, with guides, etc., and killing a horse now and then to enliven the trip. It is a disgrace to the colony that such a | state ol things exists. The Auckland public ! talk as if they thought communication with Taranaki was a desirable thing, and yet they allow themselves to be cub off except by sea. Bub I just remember they want it via the pumice flats of the Ohura and the precipices of the Tangarakau or nob all. A shorter and better road through country that would carry a family on every hundred acres is not a desirable one for fear it might draw attention from the proposed railway to Stratford. We give Mr. Lang, member for Waipa, a deal of the credit for getting the votes passed. He has seen what we have to go through, and the need there is for a passable road between the two districts. Is it because the work is in bis district and he in opposition that the votes are not being expended?—l am, etc., An Awakino Settler