CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD BETWEEN WAIPA AND RAGLAN, (CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, H-11

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1876. NEW ZEALAND.

CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD BETWEEN WAIPA AND RAGLAN, (CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, of the sth day of July, 1876. " For copy of any Correspondence between the Colonial Government and the Superintendent of tho Province of Auckland regarding the construction of a road from the Waipa to Raglan."— {Sir O. Grey)

No. 1. His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secbetabt. Sib,— Wellington, 9th August, 1875. I have the honor to transmit the copy of a Memorial from the Chairmen of several Highway Districts in the Waikato country, praying for the formation of a road between Eaglan and the Waikato district, and to request that you will give the matter your favourable consideration. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. G. Gbet.

Enclosure in No. 1. Memorial to His Honor the Superintendent of the Province of Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand. The Memorial of the undersigned Chairmen of Highway Boards humbly showeih : — 1. That great inconvenience and loss is sustained by the inhabitants of the under-mentioned districts through the want of proper communication between Eaglan and the Waikato district. 2. That the formation of a dray road between the Waipa Kiver and Eaglan would greatly facilitate the means of transit, and, by opening the natural outlet to the sea-coast, be the direct means of improving trading operations in our various districts. 3. That the isolation of the Kaglan district, through the want of a proper road between it and the Waikato country, is the main cause of preventing settlement in that fertile district. 4. That the formation of this road, as your Honor may remember, was one of those enumerated in the original programme of public works submitted to the General Assembly. 5. That in our opinion no Native difficulty need be apprehended in forming this road, as the land through which it passes was bought and paid for by the Government before the Confiscation Act waspassed. 6. That the Natives themselves, the original owners of the land, are extremely desirous to have this road made, and have on several occasions forwarded petitions to the Hon. the Defence Minister, signed by all the principal chiefs in the district, requesting the formation of the road between Eaglan and the Eiver Waipa. 7. That your memorialists therefore earnestly beg that your Honor will exercise your influence in the House of the General Assembly, and advocate such steps to be taken as may remove the disadvantages under which we are placed, by causing a road to be formed between Eaglan and the Eiver Waipa with all possible despatch. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Signed the 21st day of June, 1875. William Powell, Chairman, Town of Eaglan Highway District. William H. Wallis, Chairman, Whaiugaroa Highway District. Henry Duncan, Chairman, Karioi Highway District. Edwabd G. McMinn, Chairman, Pirongia Highway District. John D. Hall, Chairman, Alexandra District. J. D. Febmann, Chairman, Mangapiko Highway District. Geo. Ed. Lucomb, Chairman, Ngaruawahia Town Board. Thomas Wilson, Chairman, Newcastle District Board.

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No. 2. The Hon. the Colonial Secbetaet, Auckland, to His Honor the Supebintendent, Auckland. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 11th August, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, enclosing the copy of a memorial from the Chairmen of several Highway Districts in the Waikato, praying for the formation of a road between Eaglan and the Waikato District. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland. Daniel Pollen.

No. 3. His Honor the Supebintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secbetaet. (Telegram.) Auckland, 21st December, 1875. Let tees coming in from Natives of "Waikato representing great distress from flood, and praying for seed potatoes. Will the General Government take this excellent opportunity to employ Natives on Eaglan and Whaingaroa Eoad ? Armed Constabulary also available for this most necessary work. G. Gbex. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington.

No. 4. The Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet to His Honor the Supebintendent, Auckland. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Offices, Auckland, 13th January, 1876. Adverting to your telegram of the 21st December, I have the honor to inform you that the Natives in the Waikato have been relieved and supplied with seed potatoes, by order of the Native Minister. I have, &c, Chaeles C. Bowen, (in the absence of the Colonial Secretary). His Honor the Superintendent, Auckland.

No. 5. His Honor the Supebintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaby. Sic, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 29th May, 1876. I have the honor to forward the enclosed copy of a letter received from Mr. Andrew T. Barton, Karakariki, near Ngaruawahia, together with a memorandum thereon by Mr. Allright; and I beg leave to inquire whether it is the intention of the General Government soon to open a new road through Native lands between Ngaruawahia and Eaglan. I have, &c, Eeadeb "Wood, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. (for the Superintendent).

Enclosure in No. 5. Sib, — Karakariki, Ngaruawahia, 11th May, 1876. I have the honor most respectfully to report for your consideration respecting the road to Raglan. lam a mail contractor from Ngaruawahia to Baglan this year, and am unable to carry out my contract without the assistance of the Provincial Government, as I am informed that the said road is under their control. There are five small bridges between the "Waipa Eiver and "Waitetuna on the said road, which were completely destroyed and carried away by the last flood, and some others require repairing. The most wretched state of the road, and the great delays in crossing creeks, caused by the bridges being broken, make it impossible to deliver the mails within stated hours. In the present bad state of the roads, the risk of accident to both man and horse is fearfully great. More than once have accidents happened to the mailman, resulting in broken bones and numerous injuries to horses. I shall be very thankful to you if you will use your great influence with your Government in getting the above-mentioned bridges rebuilt and repaired again at your earliest convenience. I have, &c, Andeew T. Babton, Sir G. Grey, X.C.8., Superintendent, Auckland. Mail Contractor. MruTTE by Mr. Alleight. The bridges and culverts referred to are old and in a very dangerous state. Not being in any highway district, they have been neglected by both the General and Provincial Governments, for the reason

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that the General Government have promised the settlers for years to have a new and better line of road surveyed and opened through Native lands to Raglan. The cost of repairing the numerous bridges and culverts, to last a few years longer, would not be less than £200. 20th May, 1876. H. Allbight.

No. 6. The Hon. the Colonial Secbetaby to His Honor the Stoebujtendent, Auckland. Sib,— Colonial Secretary's Office, "Wellington, 12th July, 1876. The Government have taken into careful consideration your Honor's letter of the 29th of May last, in which you enclose the copy of a letter addressed to your Honor by the contractor for carrying the mail between Ngaruawahia and Eaglan, in which he urges that the road he has to traverse should be repaired; and you inquire whether it is the intention of the Colonial Government soon to open a new road through Native lands between Ngaruawahia and Eaglan. I regret to say that the Colonial Government have no funds available for the purpose indicated. I have, &c, His Honor the Superintendent of Auckland. Daniel Pollen. By Authority: G-eobge Dibsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB76. Price 3d.]