THE TOKOMAIRIRO ROAD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 526, 27 August 1863, Page 6

THE TOKOMAIRIRO ROAD.

(To the Editor of. the Daily Times.) , Sir—The press is often instrumental in procuring the redress cf grievances, under which the public suffer. We therefore take this opportunity of bringing before your notice, the disgraceful staie of one part of the road through Tokomairiro. It is that portion of the line of traffic -Avhich passes over a small creek— which runs into the north branch near the Bridge End. a tradition exists of a wooden culvert having been over tbis same creek; but afc.the present time it is a lamentable bog, in which is thrown a "lew pieces of scautliug firewood and old bags. These are loose; and the large number of draymen who daily pass over tbis trap, run the risk of breaking their hors&s legs, often capsize their drays, and have to dr-ig out the submerged shaft horse when freed from the dray and harness, by a trace horse. Some days Cobb and Co's coiches cannot get thi oush, ancl travellers have to wade through the jsiild to the White Horse Hotel—their next changing jplaes. We ourselves noticed, a few days ago, the {Ruapekg coach emerge from this wretched t'angeious .jrpot with *&$ horses smothered from head to foot in mud, and th?.eoa^h with a brol ci pjle; and many of jpnr feeders who liaye travelled this Avay must ha-e an unpleasant recollection ef the place. Now, Mv E iitor, there is a large number of industrious -working men who toil early and late, and ut present rates of cartage barely get a Jiving for tfreni-

selves and horses in carrying provisions to the gold fields; and each of these meu, in driving through this place, risks the lives of two or three valuable horsesmay be, their aii; and we believe you will be doing a service to these hard-working men. as well as to the public at large, by making known the disgraceful state, as it at present exists, cf this part ofthe Main Trunk Line to all the old diggings, Lake Wakatip, and the South. In conclusion, it may be superfluous to add that there is a large road party at work on the Tokomairiro Plain, as well as a Iteportc-r to the Daily Times, among its inhabitants. Trusting you will insert the above in your columns, We remain, Sir, Yours &c, Sjiith anu Hibbard. Tokomairiro, August 24tb, 1563.