OPENING THE PUKETOI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2110, 2 October 1885, Page 2

OPENING THE PUKETOI.

(To the Editor,)

Sir.—l venture to think that the determination of the question as to what is the natural outlet for the valuable and extensive country known as the,'Puketoi' is of sufficient public importance to warrant my again referring to the matter. I wohW probably, however, have allowed the matter to rest, were it not for the great interest that so many have evinced on the subject. Although not present at the last Council meeting, which 1 much regret, I have a fairly good idea of the main features of the report, which exactly correspond with the opinion I have formed as to the natural outlet from the "Puketoi," and the remarks in my last letter in your columns pointed directly, if notinsomany words, to the Dreyer's Rock Road, for I mentioned that so far in this district is (1 ao not refer to what lias) now concerned the Wangaehu proper is of little consequence. lam not aware if the report deals with this aspect of the question, and it may be interesting to some to know that of the Puketoi-Dreyer's Rock Road as now favorably reported on, thero only remains, I should think, approximately about 10 miles to form, Of this the Government are bound to form a large proportion, and are pledged to expend some money even this year. This length of the road is bounded entirely on the one side by Crown Lands, with a good area of Crown Lands on the other side as well. On the other hand again, the alternate route is formed for about 16 miles only at the most, and as the total length cannot be under, I Bhould think, 40 miles, and is probably more, that leaves 24 miles still to form. 1 estimated the Puketoi-Masterton Road, (via Dreyer's Rock) at 34 miles, so that the comparison stands thus: —Masterfcon Puketoi, (via Bideford,) 40 miles, 24 miles of which is still to form, and Masterton Puketoi, (via Dreyer's Rock) 34 miles, ten miles of which is still to form, moreover Government are bound to form a large proportion of the latter, and more of the former, making a vast difference to the county in formation, One remark in another connection, and I ain done, At the last Council meeting, one Councillor is reported to have referred to myself ai follows: —"The Engineer deserved the warm thanks of the Council, as well as the lasting gratitude of Mr Macquarie." I am quite at one with the first part of this sentence, but as to the latter portion, I must confess I fail to see the application, unless by reading betwoen the lines as it were, and then it may be possible even for a Scotchman to descry a something. Surely, the gentleman who made the remark must be aware that there are other members of the Council who are just as anxious to see the back countries opened up by their most natural outlets, and of whose gratitude in this case Mr Bremner is as deserving as my own. We are all, I trust, interested in the one general idea, to do our best as public men for the County generally, I am, etc, Cms. Macquarie. Alfredton 28th September 1885.