PUNEHU CROSSING.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 3, 10 July 1894, Page 2

PUNEHU CROSSING.

In our last issue we reported the closing of the Punehu crossing on the Eltham Eoad, which had been opened through Mr Watson's land since the flood—not Noah's flood, but the one which took place locally about eighteeu months ago. Unless the Hawera Council stirs itself in the matter, however, some of these gaievances will become aucient history before they are adjusted. Mr Watson has given every latitude in allowing traffic through his place for such a length of time, .and we do not eee that he can be blumed fur putting an end to it by closing the right of way. What we want particularly to call attention to is the fact that a large number of people to the eastward of Punehu have all their business dealings with this town, and- aB it is impossible to ford the river iu a vehie'e they are absolutely cut off from their source of supplies. Bakers, butcher and grocers have been in tin habit of sending their carts round to that district twice a week for the convenience of the settlers, but they cannot longer do so as they cannot get over the river. It is all very well to plead shortness of funds, but the amount' that it would take to make a ford could very easily be arranged. For the matter of that we feel pret!y sure that a number of settlers in that patt could be found who would undertake the work and wait till the Council's finances permitted of payment being made. We are quite satisfied if the crossing were over a river to give access to any town situated to the eastward it would not remain blocked. Take, for iustauce, the bridge over the Waingongono on the fe'keet Road. Although the eastern ward of Waimate was iu debt to this western end to a very considerable extent, there was no unnecessary delay in rc-eroctiug that bridge at a cost, if wo remember rightly, of about £3OO, although it was only a bye-road, and to suit a small handful of settlers who had other means of exit. The settlers on the Eltham Road have metalled their road by means of a £SOOO loan, but are now debarred from availing themselves of its advantages for the want of the expenditure of a few pounds to maka a crossing. Surely the County Council do not expect them to put their hands in their pockets t) do the work themselves, and have tluir coiitribu'Lns to the County F md taken and spent elsewhere. We trust now that public attention has been called to the master that n > time will bo lost in opening the road.