THE ALFREDTON ROADS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 298, 24 October 1879, Page 2

THE ALFREDTON ROADS.

To the Editor of the Wairarapa Daily. October 23rd. Sir—Some fourteen years ago and more there were those who did not hesitate to go and pitch their tents in the very depths of the Forty-Mile Bush, with a view to settling down, and this at a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles from Masterton, as the track goes; and there they are still, not much the worse, if they are no belter, for the scant assistance they have received from the public chest towards opening up their district by means of roads or bridges. They were, however, in hope that their turn would conic some day, and when, by a resolution of the County Council lately, a sum of £3OO was set apart to enable these poor d—ls of Alfrodton to come out into daylight without risking their lives as hitherto, it created a profound feeling of thankfulness amongst them, and the hardships and miseries of nearly a score of years were forgotten in the exultation of the moment. But their joy was short-lived, for at the next meeting of the Council they reduced this sum by one-half, forsooth, because some new chums were desirous of settling in the Wangaehu, which is only an hour's ride from Masterton, or less, having already a first class road to within three or four miles of its terminus. lam almost tempted to assert that it has been done solely to favor one individual (a friend of course), and the only resident there, and whose homestead may be reached by bullock dray, with Kttle or no difficulty

If any new chums want to pioneer; let them take axe and bill hook, as the Alfredton settlers did before them, and cut their own roads. If they don't think this plan good enough, then let them wait their turn, as we have had to wait. I thought my friend McGregor, who knows what hard work is, would have known

better than to pamper the rising generation like this, Again, by the participation of that sum neither road will be completed, and little or no advantage derived from its expendi-ture-certainly none in the Wangaehu, for there I am informed £ISOO is what is actually required, Such a frivolous and vexatious way of doling out the money is also a very extravagant one, as fresh tenders hereafter must be called to finish tho work; much time lost by extra Vjjip shifting (engineer's staft); whilst the timo of the engineer himself is needlessly taken up by having to travel two or three times oyer the same ground, and often very long distances, to make a second inspection when once ought to have sufficed. No one can take pride in his work when a job is never permitted to be, finished before a new one is found, and especially irritating to the engineer, I should thujißystaany works in hands in an uri»P|pp|pinvariably leads to '" I hope for the future -6il members will see their way to mend their ways and mine, and when they have arrived at a sensible decision to stick to it, and not depart from it, at the voice of one or More, __ Alfkedton.