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I THE TOiVif'SMPJO.JP, STRAHAN.
I
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MERCURY.
' Sir-Will you allow me the use of your
columns to direct attention of the Govern-
ment and public to a very practical turn that
may be given to the present, Macquarie Harbour
excitement. ? > i j . i
In plunging and disposing of the township
of Strahan, the department very wisely reserved
the blocks fronting the Esplanade, and
extending back to Cuming street. These blocks
will measure, I should think, from 3,000ft.
to 400ft. of frontage. They are situated in
what must be, if there is over a township at
till, the very heart and centre of that township,
and are indeed alone more than sufficient
for all the shops, warehouses, and hotels
likely to be wanted there for many a day.
Let those blocks is now cut up and disposed
aN. /This will be no injustice to the buyers
of the book allotments. They bought with
their eyes open, the " reserved " frontages
being plainly indicated on the plans. These
now frontages should, at present advantage,
bring from £3000 to £4000 at least, perhaps
double. That, with the moneys already
realised, and to be realised on unsold
back lots, will put Government into funds for
at any rate, the laying out of the two
main lines of roads most urgently in
demand-soya line of road with cut verse
and bridges from the upper Derwent Valley
to Strahan, and a line of road with culverts
and bridges on to Heemskirk. Government
must necessarily concentrate.
They can't, in the first place, at any rate,
expend on tracks and roads in every and any
direction where promising minerals are indicated.
No doubt other starting centres from
water frontages along the great reach of
Macquarie Harbour will from time to time
be found convenient and adopted. But a
steam launch or two over these quiet waters
will quite suffice for such in tel mediate
traffic. Ports of entry, customs, pilot at
tions, etc , cannot be so scattered". In the
meantime one main depot must be adopted.
Strahan is, I suppose, already fixed on. It
is near the entrance, land-locked, and safe and
although Smith's Cove will only admit
small draught of water, yet, as the outer
bar of the harbour will admit no more,
that is no objection. Let Government give
it to be understood that Strahan is the
part so fixed on, so as to give confi
. dence to business people to concentrate
themselves there, then sell, and they will
find thciruextsalc an unprecedented success,
I and revenue will flow in from shipping and
business enough to speedily forge the whole
district, the whole colony, ahead.
The \Vakcfield)8.B.,pcopleshouldsco to it.
There lies their future. It only wants a
start. Murchison's prediction, 35 years
old now, that Tasmania, from the
Macquarie to about the Frenchman's
Cap, would turn out the richest gold
- field in the world, the' long delayed, seems
likely to be realised at last. The present
prospects indicate the turn of the tide much
more decidedly than the whole mass of tin
discoveries, nothing attracts population like
gold-nothing but gold.
Let us one and all unite to do what we
can in developing our Macquarie harbour
gold fields this coming summer I am,
yours, etc., F. M.
[P.S.-Since writing above I notice a sale
of Crown land town lots advertised for the
31st instant. Is it too late to include these
Staban allotments in this sale ?
Experience has over and over again
proved the truth in such a case of the old
proverb, to strike while the iron is hot.
The sooner the sale now the larger the bids.
I suppose the Government would like to see
some money away from the place before ex-
pending much on the place. Another
reason for dispatch-because even now ex
Sonditure should be commenced. Let them
of their best,' it will take surveyors all they
know to afford the desired facilities to summer
prospectors.
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