GRANTS TO ROAD DISTRICTS.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 7 August 1894, Page 2

GRANTS TO ROAD DISTRICTS.

(TO THE EDITOR.) Sib, —You published a very interesting return in your issue of the 20'h July concerning the revenue and expenditure upon certain roads iu the Parihaka Boad District. The return, as published, appears by no means complete, and causes one to desire further information thereon. It seems to me that the receipts of grants and expenditure thereof could very well be left out of tho return, which rather tends to confuse the matter. There is. nevertheless, some comment to make upon them. Grants to the Waiteika Road figure at £SOO less threepence, and the expenditure is shown as £378 10s Bd. A surplus is apparently unexpended, which requires explanation. The expenditure upon some of the roads appears to be so comparatively small—viz., upon the Namu Road, Opua, Kina Roads, &c—as to cause.a doubt whether the whole expenditure is included. The expenditure, on the other hand, on the Puneho Road, seems altogether out of proportion, considering the little (almost no) settlement upon that road until a year ago. The expenditure on the Ihaia Road seems excessive also, and open to doubt. Then some roads are not mentioned at*all, viz., the Ngariki and Newall Roads. The Kahui, Opourapa, and Parihaka (inland) Roads were not opened when native rates were being received. In the event of restitution being made, it is apparent that the Ngariki and Newall Roads claim special consideration. / There is also the block of Crown lands of 8000 acres inland of Rahotu, now settled, which does not appear in the return. This amount should be ascertained and credited to the various roads. In order to make a return of receipts and expenditure full and comprehensive, especially if it includes grants by the Government, the statement should include tho nature of the works contracted for, viz., such amount was for felling bush and making 12 feet track, and extent of bush felled ; such an amount was for draining, and length of same, and minor works could perhaps be lumped Unless one's memory is at fault, works were carried out by the Government upon some of the roads, apart from expenditure ofj grants under charge of the Road Boards, and for the purpose of making a fair comparison of the expenditure upon the various roads, this information is desirable, as some roads in the return, as published, appear greatly at a disadvantage in the matter of expenditure. —I am, ite., Faiij Pr,AV.