Kangaroo Valley – from the correspondent
In passing over the Cambewarra range I noticed six or eight men engaged at road making – at least, it is probable they considered they were doing so. When I contributed towards this road I was in hopes we would have had a road to a port in wet weather, without trudging through mud three feet deep, as we have had to do before now, in going to Broughton Creek. But we will not have that chance with the road that is being made at present for the next rain that comes it will go to improve the land down at Cambewarra only.
The work they are doing is cutting sidelings, and are taking about three or four feet in the solid, then by placing ferns and brush wood in the lower side and covering it over, this makes the road about eight or nine feet wide. They take the same quantity of earth from low places as the hills; this leaves the track like the waves of the sea, and on one sideling I noticed a place steeper than any part of the old track.
I believe the work was tendered for and I was told by one of the contractors that it was being done according to the specification; if so, it will be nothing short of money thrown away, for there is nothing to keep the loose earth and wood from going down the mountains the first rain that comes. Of course, I do not know whether the fault is with the trustees or contractors. If the first I would suggest that others be struck off the list as well as innkeepers.
Kangaroo Valley, Jan 3.
This News item made available by National Library of Australia
– Christine Murphy
Kangaroo Valley Historical Society
