H.—ll

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.