ROADS IN THE NORTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 918, 3 July 1869, Page 7

ROADS IN THE NORTH.

' Mr F. A. 'Carringtqn, Engineering Purveyor for TaranaM,* again developes his project for the settlement of the Native question,, in, a letter to the local journal. HesayV:— , - ' Roads through tliis, the North Island of] New Zealand, have been my aim since 1843, 26 years'agd, when before my' de-, parture.for' England in September^! that year I, pointed, ou!t ,to,, Colonel Wakefi&d the importance and, the urgency of this great desideratum, and I impressed upon him, before leaving, the vital necessity for a road from this place to Wanganui. When in ' England, %I,; failed not to advocate the making of , roads in this country, and since myreturn to, New Zealand in 185 V, I have never ceased, when a fitting opportunity, offered, of using my voice and my pen to aid this pressing' want. In August, 1859, 1 wrote and suggested to his Excellency, the then Governor, a means whereby roads could" be made throughout these islands without ultimate cost to the colony, and this too with a right-minded observance of the' "Treaty of Waitangi," with immense benefit to the territorial rights of the natives, with certainty of securing a means of good government and a positive boon to all ; for which, on the 10th September, 1859," I received in writing his Excellency's best thanks. Unhappily, Responsible Advisers did not think proper to act on my suggestions. Since then I have often and strenuously urged the same cause. By reference to your valuable journal of 19fch December, 1868, 6th March, 18G9, and 10th April, 1869, it may be seen that ' I have used my beat efForts to save the Government of this ' Colony from the responsibility which now attaches to it, for the want of roads whereby they would be enabled (which now they are not) to punish the. perpetrators of outrage, to restore tranquility, and to govern and render secure the lives and property of Her Majesty's subjects. Having Baid this, it is but right that I Bhould state the politic and good feeling of the late Governor Sir George Grey, Mr Fox, and General Cameron, for the welfare of the people of this settlement, which is apparent by the orders they gave for the making of certain roads for the security of life and property in this place. I, as Engineering Surveyor for the Province of Taranaki, was officially instructed to make certain roads in this Province, which General Cameron told me, on the 23rd January, 1862, until they are made this settlement is not safe. I arrived here on the 10th February, 1862, and on the 13th of the same month, by appointment, met Colonel Warre, the officer then commanding the troops in Taranaki, and the Superintendent of the Province, when I fully made known to them the instructions I had received, and the opinion of General Cameron in regard to the roads necessary to be ' made to- render this settlement safe. Colonel Warre and the Superintendent were the only individuals to whom I made known the vital importance of my mission. From Colonel Warre I received kindness and all that was in his power to enable me to carry out my instructions, but beyond this I need only say (and 1 say it with the deepest sympathy for the people of Taranaki, seeing tho loss and misory winch has ensued), that tho noble and benign work which I was ordered to carry out, was frustrated by local interference.. And now, sir, I will tell you my " proposition for dosing tho war " and when perusing what I am about to state, fail not to boar in mind cortain facts and points contained in three of my letters published in your journal of 19th December, 1868, and 6th March, 1869. Let a well oolected central position be determined on for the permanent location of troops in this, tho North Island of New Zealand, possessing as far as possible, all the requirements for a citadel and a city. From this military position mako judicious lines of roads to all centres of population. Connect thene lines of road from tho centres of population, with roods which shall intersect tho most valuable districts of country. Make known to tho natives by proclamation, that tho insecurity of life and property, and tho state of society in this island, are such, that the Government oan no longer allow thorn to tfiitinuio, and therefore, they have resolvocr on making the Quoe'n's highways throughout this bland. Lot tho tribes and individuals of tribes understand that if they are willing, they may be employed in constructing tho rows, and bo paid for their swvlcof, and

lailblie^an^ tfcey tttfrtijamiaffle; Jtijit, ikthey/.r.esist^'thfl road-inaking^tiey'^wili W^ty n^' let tiist projept.be •well^cbnßidered in detail, and' elucidated in a masterly Vay ; ; and when "allisiuliy and' finally! "determined^ then let the work commence, at And from eacH. and every one of the cenjfcres of population, or other judiciously determined points, and at the same period of time, till- all meet at the citadel site. ; after w^ n » construct ttie connecting lines. J ' Jill, 'or at least the first portion, of these roads must be carried out with a force proportionate for each, and in every way prepared for any exigency that may arise. Cease to follow the natives through the bush, with the visionary idea of subduing them, while the country remains without roads. ,Let them have the, fatigue and trouble of, coming to us, and not we the harass, , expense, . and risk of pursuing them, except for immediate retribution. In making the dominating roads which I have proposed, by far the greater portion of the lines need not be macadamised; the cuttings, embankments, and bridges are all that are required to make this island an abode of peace, and one of the most prosperous and commercially renowned islands in the world. I may now remark that we have already • spent upon native wars in New Zealand, more money than would suffice to do the work which I have proposed, over and over again ; but we have little to show for our fearful sacrifice of life and property throughout the struggle, beyond a more extended native difficulty, and a heavier pecuniary responsibility, whidh the now waning revenue of the Colony can scarcely meet. And if we continue the folly of following the aborigines through their trackless wastes, without permanent road making, it requires but little foresight to perceive that deplorable will be the consequences which must shortly befal us. If, on the other hand, this island be opened out forthwith (in some such way as I have proposed in this and my other letters herein referred to), war will shortly cease, New Zealand will be saved from indelible reproaoh, and this island will rapidly become one of the most flourishing and thriving islands in the world, provided it be properly governed, as then it could be. It cannot be otherwise, the country possesses every natural advantage that man in reason should desire. Peace properly established, the influx of people and trade will create a revenue to meet with ease all that is required to effect what I have proposed, even though it be a million and a half sterling.