MOTU-OPOTIKI ROAD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10770, 15 September 1906, Page 2

MOTU-OPOTIKI ROAD.

(From Our Parliamentary Repeater.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Opotiki County Council and residents of the Bay of Plenty have, through Mr Herrjcs, petitioned Parliament for a sufficient sum to be placed on the estimates for the completion of the Otaia-Papanioa and Pakihi roads. Petitioners point out that tho important districts of Poverty Bay and Bay of Plenty have at present no facilities for communication, but merely a narrow winding track, m many places difficult and dangerous. A good road line between Opotiki and Motu with a satisfactory grade, has been surveyed, which will shorten the journey more than twenty miles. Work was started on this road at both ends many years ago, but the progress made has been very slow owing to inadequate grants, and there still remains twelve miles to be formed. The road when completed will also provide access to large blocks of Crown lands shortly to be thrown open for selection.

One sheep.-owner m the Wairoa district, according to the Guardian, has the satisfactory return' of 120' j.er cent. -of lambs. Reports are of a like favorable nature from all directions. It is understood (says the Opotiki Guardian). that the Government have not yet decided to conclude the purchase of the Waunana Estate. The serious drawback to the purchase is that the Chairman of the Land- Purchase Board value? the grass paddocks on the estate at about the same price that bush land is^uow be-, ing soli. f