TIMBER TRAFFIC

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 114, 24 January 1940, Page 5

TIMBER TRAFFIC

MATTER INVESTIGATED

SPECIAL COMMITTEE'S REPORT - A meeting of the Special Committee of the W T hakatane County Council took place on Thursday, January 18th, wlien a letter was received from Mr R. W. Smith, oi the Uepango Sawmilling Company, thanking the Council for its advising the intention of increasing the royalties payable for timber transport . Feeling that the position with regard to t.he greater portion of the road over iwhich most of the company's timber is carted is very different from that of roads over which most of the millers' goods are carted, the, company desired to place before the council the following facts ; 1. The total distance of Connty road used by the Company is much less in length than that used by most millers.

2. That much the greater part of the company's product is loaded on to railway trucks at Edgecumbe Station, a total distance of approximately 1(> miles 70 chains. Of this, the county maintains only (5 miles 70 chains. The balance represents 10 miles of road which was, until the Whakatane Paper Mills widened it (at no cost to the council), a very narrow and poorly maintained road.

3. It is now a full width road maintained until about a year ago by the Whakatane Paper Mills and since then by the company. To do this, the company had made a grader and when necessary grades from where the county grader stops, a distance of 1 7/10 miles from Te Teko. The company has also pumiced two hills which were previously impassable in bad weather.

The company respectfully points out that in addition to paying county rates and maintaining the road, it has in the last year paid road royalty to the amount of £1.1(J lis (Id and if an increase is made it will have no option but to erect 30 chains of train line to connect with the existing Matahina tram line (in which the company is a large shareholder) and take its lorries ofT the road and cease maintenance. The company's lorries supply a convenient service free of charge to residents along this route, in carting almost daily, stores, mail, papers, etc. In asking for exemption i'rom any increase in road royalty, the company suggested that before deciding the matter, some of the councillors should make an inspection to verify tlie statements made. Committee Visits Mills. The committee reported to the ordinary meeting of the Council yesterday that it visited the mill site and interviewed Messrs Smith Bros, and Mr Anderson of the Whakatane Paper Mills.

The Chairman. Mr L. W. Luxton, thanked Messrs Smith Bros for having asked a Committee oi the Council to inspect the road and reminded them that when the company commenced milling Mr Smith Senr. had stated that the cartage of timber

by road was only a temporary measure and that it was the company's intention to cart its output by the Matahina tram line to Te Toko and. Edgecumbe. The chairman said that timber had been carted by road for well over 12 months and it Avas because of this that the council was' giving consideration to the royalty 011 the Tc Tcko-Matahina Road and other roads also, north of the confiscation line. Furthermore, the Uepango Sawmilling Co had been endeavouring to maintain the Te Teko-Matahina road and the question of the council's taking over the maintenance of such road was also under consideration. The royally in respect of cartage on county roads would be cither 4tl or sd, the timber rate of being additional. If the council took over the maintenance of the Te Tcko-Matahina Road it would definitely make it a condition that no carting be undertaken during wet weather. If this condition was abused, or if it was found I fat the timber lorries Averc travelling at excessive speeds, the council would give consideration to classifying .the Te Teko-Matahina-Fort Galatea Road sth Class. Messrs Smith Bros stated that if a roj T alty of -1 d or 5d per hundred superficial feet was decided upon the company would probably erect the necessary 30 chains of line to connect with the Matahina Tramway The chairman stated that in the council's opinion the timber should be carried by the tram line and in the event of the company's deciding tb do this the royalty would be -Id

on timber carted over county roads for general delivery from Te Teko. Mr Anderson stated later that about 20 additional culverts were jieeessarv on the 10 miles of road involved and that the council could use the totara culverts on the roadside which were removed when the road was widened. His company had spent a considerable sum on making the road, culverting alone having cost over £!JOO. So far as the future! maintenance Avas concerned the Whakatane Paper Mills Avould be pleased to co-operate with the council and would be prepared to grade the road when and as required by the council at cost. He regretted that the company had no labour available and could not undertake any culverting work. Recommendations to Council. It was recommended that the coun cil maintain the Te Teko-Matahina Road—that the olTev of the Whakatane Paper Mills to grade and form such road be accepted and that 11 vri company be thanked fov indicating its preparedness to do this work at cost —that the council have necessary culverts installed —that additional maintenance costs, together with cost of installing culverts be charged to timber royalty account —that Uepango Sawmilling Co or any other company carrying timber over the Te Teko-Matahina Road or roads other than State Highways north of the confiscation line be charged a timber royalty of 5d par lumdrcd superficial I'eet, usual timber rate of additional —that any company carting timber over such road be advised that if timber cartage is undertaken during wet weather or if heavy motor lorries arc operated at excessive speeds that the council will seriously consider the necessity of re-classifying the Te Teko-Matahina-Fort Galatea road sth Class —and that the matter of maintenance of the Te Teko-Mata-hina Road be reviewed if existing order alters materially.

Report Adopted. Cr Lux ton said that the timber mills had made a feature of the fact that residents in their locality benefited by a service in the carriage of mails, goods, and passengers free of cost. As far as he could see there were few residents there. Cr McGougan asked, whether it was only in winter that damage was done to the roads. Cr Cawte was of the opinion that excessive speed was, responsible. Cr Cawte added that if the Fort Galatea Road was classed as a sth grade road it would stop the Rangitaiki Dairy Company from using it. He asked that this road be left out of the proposed re-classification. The report of the Special Committee was adopted.