CORRESPONDENCE. THE MOUNT COOK TRACK.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3538, 30 January 1886, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE. THE MOUNT COOK TRACK.

I TO THE EDITOR OP THE TIMAKU UEUALI), i Sin, — I certainly think Mr R. Rutherford i deserves the thanks of the district for bring . ing the Mount Cook track, or rather the ; £1200 grant, under public notice. The worl ; seems to mo to have been too privately and i hurriedly entered into. We first heai i rumors that a grant has been made, then ■ after a month or two of silence, suddenly we hear that this largo sum, and goodness knows ! how much of our actual "rate money "is being expended by day labor, and as no report ol , Council meetings appear since the grnnt has been made, wo naturally wonder under whoso authority. Suddenly comes Mr R. Rutherford's letter and thon several others, and amongst them one from Mr J. McGregor, who 13 Chairman of the County Council. On Mr McGregor's authority we arc told that the work is being " curried out under tho Council's instructions, or at all events by those members who chooso to hUmvU' Truth and Justice" (Mlverntrcam ?) that there has not been a quorum for tomo timo ; therefore I conclude from tho above that these works arc being carried out under the Chairman's orders. Tho Government gave tho grant, nnd I fancy there was no stipulation as to how it. was to be expended, and it, ecoiiis to me to be a very gravo responsibility for tho Chairman to decide that such a large sum 13 to be expended m this way, without either calling a special meeting of tho Council or eho a public meeting at the Creek. This road is not the only possiblo echerao for getting to Mount Cook, and bimco tho grant lias been made thero has been ample time to thoroughly ventilate tho matter. Somo other ratepayer.* nnd myself havo suggested another route to the Council. Anyono knowing tho nature of tho country tho present road traverses must admit that £1200 will hardly m.iko ii:iy impression over the 45 miles, and evi'n if thousands were spent and a good loud made, unless nil tho creeks lire bridged, a largo gang of men would have to be continually kept at work on it, ns every full of rain would wash awny the banks and crossings of tho many mountain torrents nnd small rivers on the road. Sj that, virtually, it is impossible (or tho thousands will not be forthcoming) to construct a road that will really benelit. the dir-trict. One ulternntire plan is us follows : — Thero is already a good tmck up to Mr Burnett's, and very little is required U> make a good track from lure to tho banks of the Tasinan river. Across thi-> wo suggest throwing a small foot-bridge, something similur to the one nt Kairlie Creek, and then very little more will bo needed to make a passible track to the hotel. In fact, a photographer years ago (Mr Price) drove this route with nil his appliances, and last yenr several light traps drove up. There are several advantages m this route. In the first place, there aro no dangerous rivers to ford, and it puts Mount Cook within two days (instead of threo or four days via Pukaki) easy reach of Timaru. The stages are shorter than those via Pukaki, and there is the very considerable saving of tho eipenso of a night at the Pukaki Ferry. The proprietors of the Hermitage would very soon make arrangements for keeping visitors' horses if necessary on this side of the river, or they could bo led over the river, and he could have an express to drive tourists from the opposite fido to his hotel. From the above 1 think it is evident that if it is possiblo (and I have heard no reason ngninst it) to bridge the river, it would be much the safest, shortest and cheapest way for tourists, nnd therefore the best for tho district. 1 trust therefore that the Council will give the above suggestion their most serious consideration ou Monday next. Thanking you for finding epaco for so long a letter, I nm, &c., X RtcirAiiDSOJf, Junr. Albury, January 28th, 1886. TO THE EDITOR OP THE TIMAKU HERALD. Sir, — I feel sorry for our County Chairman, Mr McGregor, for tho feeble way m which ho answers " Ratepayer's " nud my letters. Mr McGregor does not mention timekeeper and ganger at £3 10s each, also 'Si day men at Os per day when any number of men would be willing to take 63 these hard times, but harps on 1110 complaining of the blacksmith and cook. What I do complain of is the Council having to buy blacksmith's tools and cookinc utensils, besides horses, drays, etc., which will be useless to the Council afterwards. Now, every contractor has nil his requisites m stock. Mr McGregor asks why wo do not call for tenders f'>r our supplies of stores. Ho forgets ho is not spending his own money, but the ratepayers', and down this part we are not so well off, and havo to loop civil to our merchant, and tako what ho gives us. But "A Lovor of Truth and Justico" puts everything straight. Jfo doubt ho is m a fair way of getting a good billet from tho Council as soon us ho has Gnished " managing " his own property. Ho informs us two meetings lapsed since the grant was received. Thero ho commences haidly within the truth, asone meeting lapsed and the Clerk sent one member, anyway, notice oE the meeting lnpeing, but as thero was nothing to do ho need not attend the following Monday, and this is no doubt when "A Lover of Truth nnd Justice" turned poor man's friend. I quite admit of not knowing there was so much distress m that part of tho district, that timekeepers, gangers find even laborers wero brought so low as to accept these miserable wages of £3 10s per week for the former and 9s per day for laborers. Tho only thing lam afraid of is tho £1200 running short before they get a start at the work. Ho also states his rates are so line ho does not feel them. It is very different, with me ; I do feel them. But perhaps his banker pays them without bothering him ; and if ho will only sign his own name instead of " A Lover of Truth and Justico," which far from suits him, I am willing to prove his letter to contain moro inaccuracies and gross misstatoinents than mine. Tbo lnst part of his letter is an unjust untruth. I am, &c, B. Hutuebford.