THE HAMILTON-WHATAWHATA ROAD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1803, 26 January 1884, Page 2

THE HAMILTON-WHATA-WHATA ROAD.

« TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — On the presumption that your article of Tuesday last on the above road is not intended as an impartial criticism on the change proposed by the Waipa County Council, but is rather a brief on behalf of the swamp road, will you allow me as one interested, and therefore also partial, to say that that article deals far from fairly with the now proposed road. In the first place the so-called old road is not three miles further round ; and secondly, the remark about its route is uncalled for. The gullies alluded to are at any rate not water-holes, and for at least half the distance the road could hardly be improved, there already being too many cuttings. However, my object is to call more especially attention to this fact, viz : that the proposed county road is now passing where a good road should pass, i.e., through workable land :— j Between Hamilton (Jolly's), and the out- ' side of Whatawhata there are now no less than 12 resident settlers on this totally neglected road (representing about 2000 acres) | some with a considerable stake in the land. On the swamp road with two exceptions close to Whatawhata, there is not one resident settler, nor not likely to be. Were I railroads to be constructed with the one view, viz., which is the shortest way and i not which is the best all round, would they ever pay their way? Arguing from this, I fail to see why the opinion of a mail contractor, who cares not if his road runs underground, if by so doing his distance is sensibly diminished, should have much weight. As regards the cardinal point at issue, viz., expense, I should, not imagine that any cane man, especially if he has seen Mr Sandes' opinion, and himself actually has inspected these two roads, could have any hesitation-which to prefer for the expenditure necessary for a really permanent w*yjb.ut, afwuno, M*rQ»d. on whjobtg

expend yearly trifle? (!) of a few hundred pounds or so, no doubt he would fiud just what he wants in the present dreary swamp road ! — I am, &c, Or.n Road. Hamilton, 22nd January, 1884.