TAPANUI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 15 April 1874, Page 3

TAPANUI.

A correspondent has furnished us with the following petition to the Provincial Government, protesting against the construction of the new road from Tapanui to Swift Creek, and the correspondence there anent : — '" To his Honor the Superintendent and Provincial Executive of Otago. " We, theresidents of Tapanui and neighboring districts, waggoners and others interested, hearing -that ft. is the intention of the Government to have a new road constructed i from Tapanui to Swift Creek, beg respectfully to protest against the construdfidn-of such .road, on the ground that the present main road is more convenient, and __ j8;j 8 ; amply sufficient for the wants of the disfcfcaefot.; Ye would protest against the cony sfruction of the proposed new i>oad on the following grounds also :— lst? That there can ' be no reserve' for'; the convenience of waggoneas on the new as on the old road ; 2nd, Thattheipresent road opens up communication with Waikaka and Scrubby Flat diggings, and. that .these advantages will be lost should the new road be made,- and the present one >ieglected by the Government; and 3rd, That the proposed new road will be considerably longer than the present one. These considerations seem to us of so important a "character as> need be only submitted to your Honor and the Executive, to gain an immediate withdrawal of instructions, which may have been isfeued for the construction of the - "new main road referred to. " J. K. Cameron J. M'Coll John E. Vallance -, James Crawford William Bowden John Cameron John M'Coll Charles Crisp R. G. Ferguson ' Hugh Mackay George Grieg . F. W. M'Kenzie Alex. Mackay Daniel Robertson John Williams James Smith William Mayo Thomas Wardlaw Donald 'M'Kenzie John Patterson Robt. Elliot JohnM'Allister Norman M'Kenzie George Mear Duncan M'Coll . Arch. Revie David Shedden . Jacob Shearing." 'XBTTEB PEOM SECEETJLEY FOB PUBLIC WORKS. " 'Sir, — I have been directed to forward, for the consideration of the Tapanui Progress Committee, a memorial, that has been received by the Government protesting against the construction of the proposed road fre-m Tapanui to Swift Creek, together with the report of the District Engineer on the subject ; and to request that the Committee will be good enough to give an expression of its views. I am to add that tenders have been received for the works, but will not be dealt with pending the receipt of the Committee's "opinion. — I have the honor to be, Sir, your ■obedient servant, "Aiex. Wimis, " Under-Secrctary." DISTBICT EHGINEEE's BEJOBT. " Sir, — I am of opinion that the construction of the road between Tapanui and Swift t^reek should be proceeded with. The present track may suit the petitioners, but I am of "opinion that the general public will prefer the "other. The distance is about equal, and the proposed road will form a part of the permanent roads of the district. The present one, Km account of its steepness, can only be con-'-Bidered a temporary track, and would never have been made had there been sufficient money available at the time to construct the Toad now in dispute. — Yours, &c., "William Smaill. " March 27, 1874." PBOGBESB COMMITTEES' BEPLT TO ABOVE , -SIEMOBIAI/. **• To Horace Bastings, Esq., " Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of.your letter, No. 14,984, asjring the opinion of the Progress Committee on the memorial lately submitted to you by interested ■^parties, protesting against the opening of the new road from Tapanui to Swift Creek ; and, in reply, beg to slate that the memorial -alluded to -was got up by Mr. JOIIII M'Kellar, through whose' run the proposed road goes, and many of the names (14) have no interest in tho district whatever. " The first objection argued is that there is no camping ground on the new road, and that it is much longer. The fact is that the new road leads to the same camping ground, and, is if anything, shorter and much, easier to travel. " The second objection fears the loss of a 'convenient road to Waikaka, Scrubby Flat. There would not be any necessity for tho shutting up of the old road, although the traffic is comparatively trifling , but by the new road, the principal trade is to, Lawrenr e, Teviot, &o. '"Tliird 'objection. The new road will be the permanent main road, and ' leads a considerable distance towards the short and comparatively easy route to tho Beaumont bridge via the Gorge.,. "The Committee trust that these reasons, -and many others that are patent to all, will be sufficient to warrant the Government to proceed with the works lately tendered for without delay. — I have the honor to be, Sir, your -most obodient servant, "ASDEEW AIIAN, " Secretary to Progress Committee.

■"April 4; 1874." .