The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1894.

Waikato Times, Volume XLII, Issue 3383, 6 March 1894, Page 4

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1894.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religioui or political.

In our report of the meeting, held on February 21st., of the Raglan County Council, a paragraph occurs which is worthy of more than passing notice. This is: Waipa-Rag-lan Road,—With reference to the application of -the Council for a grant of £4OOO for metalling this road, a reply was received from the Government that the matter would be considered in framing J the estimates." We venture to say that no project ever formulated by the Raglan Council .can approach the above, so far as its importance and intimate relation to the welfare to this district, and the large and growing trade which now; existslbe-j tween 'Waikato Coast districts, is concerned. The formation' of -this road, over the range, which was carried out many years ago, by large bands of Maoris, at a cost of thousands of pounds, was justly regarded as a work of great moment to the western districts, and it was freely prophesised that once a good highway was opened up between the chief centres of agriculture and commerce port of Raglan,; a steady and it would be witnessed. This has been fully borne out. ; Not only has the existence of the Waipa-Raglan road been the means of inducing many, formerly residents in Waikato n to take up areas.of, the,comparatively: cheap and bush lands in"the coastal districts; but it has enabled large numbers of Waikato residents, with their families, to; pay an annual; visit to 4rc sea-side, in search of health and rest, and this without going far from, home, or incurring any great expense. There can; be no question however, but that much of the value of this road, as a reliable means of communication between Waikato and Raglan, has been lost owing to its deplorable condition during the winter months. At that time, it would, indeed, be hard to find a worse road to travel on. The soil being, in great part, a tenacious clay, it requires but a slight traffic in the/ winter season, to render 5 it practically impassable! It is to obviate this difficulty, and keep the road open for wheel traffic throughout the year, s that the Raglan County authorities have approached the Goverment in respect to obtaining a grant for metalling it, an application in which, w« sincerely trust, they will be successful. The difficulty, however" in the way of road communication will not be altogether removed, even were the line metalled as far as Whafcawhata, inasmuch' as a . short, but bad, piece of road; exists ..between that township and the Fran'kton Junction Railway station. This piece, about six miles in length, is chiefly over a swamp formation, and

its maintenance, under the heavy traffic winch is always passing, has for years been a serious drain upon the resources of til Newcastle riding in the Waipa County. The ratepayers in this district are already burdened with some length of county roads, and have always considered that this portion of the WaipaRaglan road, which is, really, used more by residents west of the Waipa river, than by Newcastle ratepayers themselves, should be specially treated, and maintained as a work of more than local importance. If funds can bo obtained to metal the roads from Raglan to Whatawhata then the work must be completed to Frankton Junction Station. Such a consummation would be of the greatest value to' the districts above named, and, we confidently believe, would do more towards settling the extensive areas of waste landsmuch of it still held by the Crownlying to the west of the Waipa river, than anything we know of. W« would suggest that the matter be brought under the notice of the member for Waipa before the sessions opens, in which case we have very little doubt but that it would be heartily supported in the proper quarter.