THE RAGLAN HIGHWAYS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1594, 29 June 1900, Page 2

THE RAGLAN HIGHWAYS.

[By Chronicler. 1 • Now that the winter has commenced in earnest our settlers os.n be heard on all sides bewailing their lot in having to contend with the quagmires which here do duty for roads. For say locality to make progress good roads are a paramount necessity. Until such are provided it is impossible for a district to compete with others more favoured, That is the unfortunate experience of our settlers. Tho land here is good, as was forcibly demonstrated by the products exhibited at the late Show. The roots, especially, would compare favourably both for Quality and the return per acre, with those of any part of the colony, and many of the visitors expressed surprise that a district which can raise suoh exhibits should apparently be so backward as regards settlement. If they were to revisit Raglan just now they would imdiscern why this is thus. Many who would settle here under more favourable circumstances recognise that under present conditions it would not he advisable to do so. Several of our new settlers, who came here with the intention of adopting mixed farming have been forced to the conclusion that grazing is the only thing open for them, for if they raised cereals and fodder they would he'debarred from placing them on the market.

It is a striking commentary that after a quarter of a century's settlement it is necessary to bring our mails bypaokhorst from a town not 40 mi es distant, and that we are otherwise completely cat off from the outside world except by sea. Of course, it may. be urged that there are great natural difficulties to overcome, but they are not insurmountable, and until they are grappled with Raglan will bb Raglan, and settlement retarded. When the Premier was here a fbw weeks ago a deputation waited upon him regarding the proposed deviation of the road between Waitetuna and Whatawhata, and it was understood that he would favour a grant being made by the Government for the work. This can, therefore, be left for the Oovernment to deal with. Mr Seddon, howevei, would not vouchsafe any assistance for metalling existing roads, but pointed out that loans could be obtained from the Government for the purpose for 42 years at 3J per cent. This, then, is the position : The ratepayers, if they wish good roads, will have to rate themselves for the purpose. This, I am sure, they would gladly do, in fact some of them say it would pay them to contribute five times as much in rates than they do now in order to secure the boon, as they would then be in a position to do more with their farms. It is for* the County Oounoil to obtain information as to the probable amount necessary to satisfactorily carry out in its entirety the thorough formation and metalling of the road between Waitetuna and Eaglan, and also the Te Mata-Kauroa-Raglan roads, and to submit definite proposals to the ratepayers, who may be relied upon to remedy the present disgraceful state of affairs. Oh, let it be soon !