✨ Provincial Government Correspondence
91
Superintendent’s Office,
SIR,—
Wellington, 18th December, 1872.
Referring to our interview with yourself and the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, relative to a road or tramway from Masterton to the Manawatu Gorge, I have now the honor to enclose for the information of your Government the following documents, viz.:—
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Report of Mr. Blackett, dated 31st July, 1871, contained in the Appendix to Journals of the House of Representatives, vol. I., D. 5, p. ii., section 2.
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Report of Mr. Kelleher, Provincial Surveyor, 13th December, 1871.
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Report of Mr. Kelleher, 25th March, 1872.
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Report of Mr. M’Leod, 26th March, 1872.
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Tracing of country from Masterton to Manawatu Gorge; computed distance, 65 miles.
It will be seen from Mr. Blackett’s Report that the idea at the date of that Report was that a line of road should be formed first, with a view to the subsequent construction of a railway.
I know of no more important line in the Province, having regard, 1st. To the completion of inter-communication with several lines of main roads, railway, and tramway, either already constructed or in course of construction. 2nd. To the location of immigrants. And I accordingly urge its immediate construction on the attention of your Government.
It was at one time contemplated that a tramway should be constructed along this line. I am, however, of opinion that the most prudent course would be to make a metalled road, with a view at a future date to the construction of a railway.
I would recommend that three or four sites for settlement should be selected along the line at suitable intervals, each containing five thousand or six thousand acres, surveyed into suitable blocks, to be occupied under provisions to be approved by the Governor in Council, in accordance with the Wellington Special Settlements Act.
The fund which provides the means available for this work is created by “The Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870,” Part I., Section 4, “Roads in North Island.”
Without in any way wishing or intending to obtrude the services of the Provincial Government, I beg to express our readiness to undertake the administration connected with the execution of this important line of road, subject to the general direction of your Government.
Should you favourably entertain the question of the immediate construction of this line, whether under your direct control, or indirectly through the agency of the Provincial Government, in either case the Provincial Government will render a cordial co-operation; and I should, with such prospects before me, and in special reference to your circular of the 4th instant, be prepared to recommend the introduction of two thousand adults into the Province during the year 1873.
The class of immigrants which I have reason to believe most suitable to the requirements of this Province, is that of young married people and single women.
I have, &c.,
WILLIAM FITZHERBERT,
Superintendent.
The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse,
Premier.
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Wellington Provincial Gazette 1873, No 10
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏗️ Superintendent's Proposal for Masterton to Manawatu Gorge Road
🏗️ Infrastructure & Public Works18 December 1872
Road Construction, Tramway, Masterton, Manawatu Gorge, Provincial Government, Immigration, Public Works, Land Settlement
- William Fitzherbert (Superintendent), Author of the proposal
- G. M. Waterhouse (Honourable), Recipient of the proposal
- Blackett (Mr), Author of a report
- Kelleher (Mr), Provincial Surveyor and author of reports
- M'Leod (Mr), Author of a report
- William Fitzherbert, Superintendent
- G. M. Waterhouse, Premier