ELTHAM ROAD WEST.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 4 September 1894, Page 2

ELTHAM ROAD WEST.

(Our Own Correspondent.)

It comes as a novel sensation to ns to have our claims advocated, and e redress of our grievances pleaded for in a leading article in the press. We cub our eyes and look again, but there it is, as plain as print can make it, and none of your half-apologetic, halfpleading articles either, but a straight out demand for a redress of the present state of things on the score of right and justice; just the sort of article to commend itself to the mind of an independent bush settler. The Opunake Times is already very popular in the bush districts, but if you keep on as you have started, Mr Editor, you will soon bave to enlarge your staff, the increased demand for your paper will be so great. Your little bit of sarcasm in comparing the apathy shown by us in this matter to that of the ratepayers in Taranaki County is not altogether undeserved. But though we cannot admit the impeachment (if the ratepayers on the Taranaki end of the Eltham Road are to be taken as a fair sample of the whole of that, county), still must admit that there is great room for improvement, and the apathy lately shown in regard to the complete stoppage of traffic at the Punehu crossing (aud to a certain extent the same indifference has been shown in regard to the unwarranted attempt to levy a heavy special rate on this already over-rated little community) is very puzzling, and very aggravating to anyone who takes an interest in those matters. To a certain extent the matter of attending to this crossing has been left in our member’s hands, with the result that before we scarcely knew he was moving in the matter he had very nearly landed us for the above-named special rate. Mr Hemmingway says he wi| only moving to carry out the ratepayers’ wishes, and we may charitably assume that it was, so ; but, on the other hand, I think it may reasonably, be assumed that had not those supposed wishes coincided so closely with his own well-known views re the Maugawhero bridge, it is very doubtful whether he would have shown the same zeal and alacrity in having the aforesaid wishes so hurriedly carried out. It is to be hoped that your spirited article on the subject will cause our member and the Council to take a different view, and adopt your suggestion, namely—- <• That the amount required for bridges be borrowed from the land fund of the Waimate Riding, to be repaid out of ordinary revenue from loan area." As you point out, there would be no injustice in this, as for years the open parts have been borrowing from the bush, and when the valuation comes round, next summer, I think the large amount of improvement* effected in the bush will be found to have increased our rateable vale ; so that the repayments in a short time of this amount (and still leave enough rcr venue for maintenance of the road) will be no difficulty whatever. As I am writing (Sunday morning) it is snowing heavily here, and has been for more than an hour. We, have had very heavy showers of hail all day yesterday, and the weather is bitterly cold. This sort of weather is very trying for cattle and horses, the majority of which are in low condition here just now, as feed is very scarce. The grass had just started growing nicely, but will receive a great check from this very cold weather we are having. I would like to suggest to the conveners of meetings regarding local government matters that a little longer notice of such meetings than was given last Wednesday would be. advisable. Very few .here knew anything about it till too late to attend.