Valley Road Deviation.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 264, 15 March 1894, Page 2

Valley Road Deviation.

MEETING OF SETTLEBS. A meeting of ratepayers interested in the proposed deviation of the eastern end of tho Valloy road was hold in tho Aratika schoolhouse last evening. Thero was a fair attendance. Mr J. 11. 0. Colby wan voted to the j chair, on tho motion ol Mr G. Allorby, and reviewed in a few words | tho objects for which the meeting had I been called. He said that it was un necessarj' to tell them what ndvan tngo wan to be gained by diverting tho road from tho top of tho hill' which thoy wished to avoid, to tho valloy below. At tho request of the ratepayers Mr Pearco, member for No. h Ward of the Manchester Koad District, said the length of tho proposed new road was TO chains, and he thought the first thing thoy ehould havo done waa to have interviewed Mr Millen, through whoso property tho proposed road would go, and ascertain what price ho wanted for tho land. Then they would have to find out the cost of making the road. He understood Mr Millen's price was very high, and if they went to work under the Public Works Aot they would be put to a lot of trouble. The Board had already experienced the difficulty of taking property for roads under tho Public Works Act, and the host way, he thought, was for the settlers to buy tbe sections, take the road out, and sell the remainder in two or more small sections. Mr Pearce thought the beat road would be got by going into Mr C. Milieu's section and take a straight line through Mr G. Millen's pioperty. Fencing the road would cost £140, and then there was the maintenance for all time, besides making the road, which would cost in all at least £600. There were no two opinions which way the road should go, but they had to see where the money was coming from, as a considerable sum would liave to be raised before the Board would do anything. The settlers could decide afterwards by taking a vote whether the old road was to be closed. Tn the event of sufficient money not being fortbeoming by subscription as proproposed, the best thing to do might be to raise a loan, and include a portion of the Pohangina road district in a special rating district. The interest on a loan of £GOO would bs £30, and that would be much easier for the settlers to pay than by raising a subscription. He considered a one-third proportion would be fair for the Pohangina district to pay. The Government might not allow them to raise a loan for this work, as they may not consider it a new work when there is already a road. A special rate could be struck to construct the work, but it must not exceed three farthings, and could only be struck for twelve months at a time. Proposed by Mr W. G. Haybittle, seconded by Mr Peddie, That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the present road should be closed, and a. deviation made in the Valley road. — Carried. Proposed by Mr W. G. Haybittle, seconded by Mr R. Curran, That a deputation, consisting of Messrs Colby, G. Alletby, and Brown, be a committee to interview Messrs G. and C. Millen, and ascertain at what price they would sell the required land ; the , committee to report at another meeting. — Carried. Mr Colby proposed a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation, to Mr Pearce for attending the meeting. Tho usual vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.