NEWLANDS AND PAPARANGI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 757, 4 March 1910, Page 2

NEWLANDS AND PAPARANGI.

' MOKE. DIRECT ROAD.. DESIRED..': v Better ro'ad : commuiiicatibii'-betweeh tlw ' f Newlands and Paparangi settlements and ' Ngahauranga was the subject matter of '•" an' interview- which a number '■ of residents of that locality had with the Hon. E. M'Kensio (Minister for Public Works) yesterday/ •■ : •''■'■'-;' " : - . -.'■•-'.-.■ Mr.'J: P. Luke, M.P.,- who introduced the deputation, said that the'present road up the Ngahauranga--Gorge : was two — miles and three-quarters long, whilst the '.'.- proposed road, which 1 would traverse,. what was'" called-"Wade's Gully,' would : bo only one mile and a half in -length..';..' Mr..-Foster, through whoso property the. projected road would run, was willing to ."'.' give the necessary land and the Makara' County would also help to give' effect to the proposition. If the road were made it would be a very great convenience to . the settlers. ..-/'. Mr. Jackson emphasised the need for-a '.'; shorter road, even if- at first only a. 14ft track could bo granted. Paparangi was - -in the. 'Makara County, which.;it was- "■ anticipated'would also shortly,' include Newlands, now 'in the JohnsonvUlei County. '"'.'■ '"'"'' '!';'. ■'.: Mr. Engel pointed out that the residents had already spent 1 ,£25, besides put- . ting in work on several. Saturdays .' .the track. The road was promised by. the late Sir J oJm M'Kenzie. many years'.'■• ■ ago. There were'2s houses in Newlands, and not a vacant.section in Paparangi. The Minister said that the original estimate for a 14-foot-track', was .£2IOO. '. Mr. Engel: That was by a different '■'' route, aun included money for.the .pur- '. chase of laud. . .'■"'.'..'-. -.".. the. Minister-said that - Mr.. Hursthonse,' chief' engineer, of. roads, had - at the time ndvissi.the Government not to give anything t'pwards the road until ho claims of the "back country settlers' had been ; fairly dealt with'. Personally.' he Minister) did' not think a ser- ' . viceablo road could be : made over the proposed route:' It ought to be'possible, w get a track for some distance from Ngahauranga. He would have, to find out how much Mr. Foster and the owners ot the Newlands property were: willing to subscribe. If the residents and owners would find £ for £ the Government might: be able to do. something, in the direction of making 'a' track, but he was ■ not prepared to promise anything for tha construction of a .road,