Opening up Crown Lands.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 9

Opening up Crown Lands.

Editor Witness,— Sir : Observing in your last iesue the very much needed remarks of Mr ThoQ. Mackenzie, M.H.R .about the tardinesß of the Government in opening up Crown lands and clearing roads, I remember what delays and difficulties I met iv selecting land in this province on arriving here from the Old Country. This homestead was the first suitable chance I got, and I managed to get a section, but had to wait months before it was surveyed. We have to make our own roads, but cannot grumble at that. We up thiß valley need to make a new track, but the Government have been proposing and proposing to make a road through to open up lands beyond this ; and what is the good of making a track just to have it blocked up with fallen bush ? In the meanwhile we are ankle and knee deep in mud. If they do not intend making the road they ought to let us know. The Government are making roada in thia district by unemployed labour, but^most of these half employed do not care for felling bush : so the formation is being proceeded with, and the season is half lost for the more urgent work of bush falling, which needs to be done in time to get the leaves and undersorub burned during the long days, to render the clearing of the roads much lighter work.

The businesslike way of road-makiDg (or clearing fence lines for that matter) here is to fell the bush daring winter, spring, and the tirat half of summer ; to iut fire into the early felled bush while the days are longest, and into the late felled five or six weeks after felling, before the days pet Bhort and the ground damp ; after burning the road is oleared of branches and logs and the formation prooeeded with afterwards. -

I, as a taxpayer, like to see public funds expended to the best advantage, and also to see the country settled, for every acre cleared renders its help fco the larger distribution of thes public burdens. —Yours &c,

Samuel Robeets.

Catlins, September 9.