New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, May 10, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 290, 10 May 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, May 10, 1848.

The unusual high tides of Saturday and Sunday and the strong South- Easters which prevailed at the same time have subjected the new works on the road from Wellington to Petoni to a severe trial. This road is to be made double its former width by the direction of his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, an important improvement which the increasing amount of traffic between the country districts and the Town rendered absolutely necessary. The road, as our readers in this settlement are aware, is raised some four or five feet above the level of high water mark and it was necessary to protect it by a wall or breastwork from the violent action of the sea. A portion of the road between Wellington and Kai warra is faced with thick totara slabs nailed to posts eight feet apart, while the remainder and by far the greater part of the work which has been finished is protected by a dry stone wall. The stone wall has not been injured in the slightest degree, while the wood work has been forced out in parts and has otherwise been more or less injured by the sea washing over it. Means will be taken to strengthen this breastwork, and otherwise repair the damage that has been done ; but the experience of the last few days would seem to shew that the most substantial, and therefore the most economical, plan would be to remove the wood-work altogether and to replace it with a stone wall, which would then be continuous. The stone-work to which we allude has been constructed by a party of the 65th Regiment under the superintendence of Lieut. Gordon, and has been built (particularly the portion last completed) in a most substantial manner ; its execution, from the large stones which have been used, is quite of a Cyclopian character. If the late accident.should have the effect of deciding those who have the direction of the works to discontinue the use of wood, and to have a stone wall built throughout, we may consider it a fortunate circumstance, as it will save a considerable amount in repairs, and what is not less important, it will prevent the interruption to the traffic which these repairs would occasion. We always advert to this subject with interest, either to note what has been done, or to suggest further improvements. From the nature of the country in this settlement, road making is one of the most important and beneficial undertakings in which the Government can engage. Let any one compare the present amount of traffic on the Porirua and Hutt roads with what it was two years since, let him consider the impetus given to cultivation and improvement by these roads, and he will be fully sensible of this fact. And from this very circumstance we would plead for the further extension of road making, so as to place all the districts in the immediate neighbourhood of Wellington on the same footing. The same assistance should be afforded to the Karori and Wainuiomata districts, which the two first named districts have received. At present the road to Karori is a very indifferent one, and in the winter almost impracticable, while to Wainuiomata there is no road worthy the name. And yet a good road to this district would render a large proportion of flat and fertile land belonging to resident settlers, available at a very moderate cost, and if only a certain amount is to be expended on roads, it would be more beneficial to the settlement to devote to this purpose a portion of the funds intended for the road to Wairarapa through the Hutt, leaving it to be completed on its present substantial scale when the increased traffic required it.

Accideni. — A seiious accident, which it is feared may terminate fatally, occurred on Saturday morning to a child of Mr. Galpin, who lives at Johnsqnville on the Porirua Road. It appears that after the fire had been lighted in the morning before breakfast as usual, Mr. and Mrs. Galpin both had occasion, in attending to their different domestic pursuits, to be absent from the house for a short time, leaving their eldest daughter, a girl about ten years of age, sitting by the fire. While playing by the fire, she accidentally struck her elbow severely against the side of the chimney, and the pain from the blow causing a fit, she fell in an insen-' sible state into the fire, where she remained uutil her mother on enteringjfthe room rescued her froro her dreadfur situation. She remains in a very precarious state, and it is feared from the severe injuries she has received, particularly about the head and arms, that her recovery is almost hopeless.

It is reported that the Matilda, a small coaster of eight tons, from Manawatu, with a cargo of wheat, was caught in the southeaster which came on so suddenly on Saturday evening, and was driven on shore near the heads. Some persons who were returning the following day from Wairarapa, saw the wreck of the vessel, but no tidings have been heard of the two men who were on board of her, and who, it is very much feared, have been lost. The Matilda was the property of Mr. Joseph Rhodes.