ROADING THE OUTBACK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 9

ROADING THE OUTBACK

THE COUNTY'S WORK FIGURES THAT SPEAK PROCRESS. The Waimari.no County was constituted oil October 2, 1902.' It comprises an area of 1315 square miles, the capital value of which was then £700,000. The area under grass was 26,000 acres. In 1911 (the latest figures available) the area in grass had risen to 74,000 acres, an increase of 300 per cent. in. nine years. By now the area in grass Js Probably 150,000_ acres, and that Iou.OOO acres now in grass represents only about a quarter of the area which can be brought into us© for grassing. In 1911 about one-third of the Waimarmo Gmnty was cut off and incorporated wiill the Kaitieke County. In 1915 the capital value (State valuation) of the portion left was £1,707,582. This represents an increase of 400 per cent, in thirteen years. Tlie County Council is pursuing . a | progressive policy, and at present there [? re .ttar. r reS e metalling -works in progress, including a six-mile contract, a threemile contract, and a seven-mile contract —all going at the same time. The great need of. the district is metalled roads, by which to open up tlia far back-blocks. The County Council is quite alive to this fact, and as fast as money is obtainable by special loan is securing it and pushing on with tliia much-needed work.

The present chairman of the County Council is Mr. Peter Brass, ono of the two pioneers of the county. Sir. Brass was the first chairman of the body and he and Mr. P. G. .Smith, another of the pioneers, have held the office almost ever since it has been in existence' (if not the whole of the time).