ROADS AND RAILWAYS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2654, 14 December 1875, Page 2

ROADS AND RAIL WAYS.

"TO THE EDITOR. .. .. ; . Sir, —Knowing your columns are always open to those who have any suggestions to offer in the cause of Progress or Public - ' Economy, I take the liberty of trespassing on you and the public a few ideas of mine on that portion of- tile" Public Works scheme relative to the construction" of ' roads in the North'lsland! "': . I have been more particularly led to ■■!; make these remarks from seeing a dis-'. , eussion in a late number of your journal on the advisability of making a road to Taupo. ' "'■' ■-■'■ It has always appeared to me that it is —I will not say a waste—but a great misapplication of money to make trunk roads in connection with : the railways scheme. That, in fact, all our trunk roads should be railroad.',; more particularly so as all trunk roads and- primary railroads .must go over • nearly the same ground. The objec ions may be argued— that the Assembly having voted the : money for roads, on roads it must be spent, and that a macadamized road is - not so costly nor requires so much time to make as a railway. The first objection everyone will readily admit. But it is obviously much more to the interest of the Government—and therefore of the public—that the roads should be constructed where they, will be of the greatest utility ; whether they be what are termed district roads or main trunk lines. The second is much lessreal'' than apparent—the difference in cost and delay in construction being much less than is generally supposed, and leaving no comparison to the discrepancy between their respective advantages. In the case of the road to Taupo—-or more correctly, perhaps—to Murimotu,: it is generally understood that the Gov- ■.. eminent have acquired a large estate of fair average land there—partly freehold and partly leasehold, and I am under the impression, that to reach this fine district (from Wanganui, if it is the near- ' est outlet, or from any where else), a/ large tract of broken and to a great extent barren country has to be passed through. Would it noc therefore be far better to tap .the Murimotu by a railway, and use the money for road purposes within the district I By doing this the Government would be enhancing the value of the public estate and doing ail ■•_ act of justice to the future purchasers of the Murimotu. In glancing over a late map of the North Island one cannot help being struck with the fact that the good metalled roads and the, railway : lines run side by side all over the Island. Of course, this has arisen, in.... a great measure through the roads having been made before the railway scheme was inaugurated; f But, I am sorry to say, instances have come under my notice where both were being constructed simultaneously, at coin-, paratively equal cost, and entailing a similar length of time in construction. Is it not, therefore, the duty of our representatives to guard against this misapplication of money \ With the railway from Wanganui to New Plymouth how much better to have expended the enormous sum appropriated on that expensive trunk road in opening up the back country which the Government' are now trying to sell. Let us hope that a different system is being started with the; railway to Inglewood, and that no more money will be expended on the road behind Mount Egmont than will suffice to drive stock through ; but that the present expenditure will be utilized by making a railway along the cleared track,'so Unit we shall see our vast areas of unalienated lands opened .up by main trunk railroads with good, distinct roads radiating in all directions from each station or centre of settlement. Much more might be said-on this sub-, . ject, but fearing niy demand on {v^Ut^ space is already excessive, liem^in. '"« Yours, &c, New Zealaxder. December 14.