MAKARA AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 411, 21 January 1909, Page 4

MAKARA AFFAIRS.

.DEPUTATION TO HON. A. W. HOGG.

■'■' A , number- iio f presidents -of ' Makara yesterday met the. Hon. A. W. Hogg' (Minis--torm charge, of the Roads . Department). They.- wero introduced by Mr; J. P. Luke, M.P.Tho first matter Wought under the notice of the Minister was the necessity for connecting up the roads in the Hawtrey Estate with-the existing roads in the Jolu'i- I sonville Town: Board' district; Those who j appeared m . support of ■ the.-'- projeot ' were ' Messrs., S. Br v vant .(chairman.of the-Makara-Cminty- : Couiicil),'-Jv Rod: (chairman '-'of '-theJohnsoirvilfe; ;Town.:- BoaTd)., (o!iairmanv.ofi;th"e r Johnsoiivillo' School 'Coniv' mitte6),:and'Mr. F.--T;-.Mobre,-iiemb'er'of 'the' Makara County Council and JohusonvilU Town, Board. Tho Minister was' asked tc graiit,£loo to'the local authority to.enable it. to carry out the work if the Governmenl did not wish to undertake it itself. . : -Li. reply, Mr. .Hogg that it -was 0 question: whether, the work should ben'erfonneihy.the local'authority or by the Government. Ho', would be just "as cautious In rc--gard to. the espondituro of £100 as if the sum needed, ran into thousands. -..Seeing that: he j was- new to the p6sition,Uio ■■ woultf have' .to >go into.the'matter .very carefully, and lie would/endeavour, to'give the'"side' v/hich;was in .the right..;, .He:referred; to 'the fact that the residents,'had from, the' start protested that 'the•'wofk':'i'tvas i ..'iibt'.^properly oarried out in the first,place by the Government, It" was his; opinion that the' Government should' bo required to'do as ■ much as private owners-would be. compelled to do under/the- oircumstances;' The, Governm-jht should not rely oh its, power : tb v over-ride the privileges; and rights of local .authorities.' The "desirability, of " giving' "families, and especially young ;children,: : access\ to the nearest school .should always be. considered, and if the "distance which:.they, had: to .travel to and from 'school "could be curtailed- at small expense,: it should be done.'' ,-He would ■ponsult.-the ;offioors';of,...the. Departmciit and,: if possible,'.' see that Van arrange'inent ,which .would prove satisfactory'-was : ''ma'de. oi^ysi,:-^, Gpunpillors Hawkins and Monk, 'who represent the Makara. riding on the- Makara C6unty:-Council",~and , "Mt , r'J:'-Hialop',''cleflror the council,'next-emphasised tho importance of the Government giving- a grant towards the cost: of constructing a new and better road'frbmKarori to Makara Valley. It was. pointed out to .the'.Minister that: the proposed' wqrk wouldjco'st £6298. Hitherto the settlers in that l6cality:had"received;nb assistance from- the-Gbvernment. ; : ... ..-.--; .Mr...Hogg, in Teply,.-.said, that as the proposed work) would, be .somewhat vcostly ,it would need to.' be carefully, considered. The grade on the. existing Toad had; been stated at .1 in 8, whilst -that of the projected'. road would: be -1 -. in- 20r Seeing that-the ■ Bettlers were willing 'to help to. pay the cost of the work, : . he would- at, once see ;. if : . anything bould.be done to assist ,themV-A road of which ithe grade was '1 in : 8 was terriblv steep;" in fact, it was 'a cruel thing' to 'wort animals "on-such a road;. : , ,-• '•>'■