MAIN HIGHWAYS COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1928, Page 1

MAIN HIGHWAYS COUNCIL

AIEETJNG AT* GREYAIOUTH. A meeting was held at Greymouth last evening of the Council of No. 12 Highways District in order to deal with the matter of recommending new main highways in this district. There were present: Messrs H. AA r atkinson (Chairman), J. Powell (Roller), AY. Clayton (Inangahua), J. Higgins (Grey), and D. J. Evans (AA’estland). A circular from the Main Highways Board was read, in reference to the petrol tax and the extension of the main highways. The circular stated that the Board estimated that the petrod tax would enable the length of main highways to he increased to the extent of fifty per cent, or by three thousand miles and the Council was asked to recommend such extensions within its district as were deemed ad-

visable. ALLOCATION OF PETROL TAX. Tlie circular detailed the proportions in which the petrol tax is to be allocated as follows:—Small boroughs of less than six thousand population, 4 per cent; cities, 8 per cent; main highways contiguous to cities, 25 per cent; new main highways, 25 per

cent; interest and sinking fund on loans raised for existing main highways, 12)- per cent; total, 98) per cent. The Council then went into the mat-

ter of the new main highways to be recommended, and the four County Councils submitted their respective proposals. These showed that, while the total length of main highways at present existing in the counties of tlie district is 337 miles; the additions recommended total a little over 2110 miles. The respective recommendations, in their order of importance in the case of county were as follows: Buller County (present length of main highways, 111 miles). —(1) Burnett’s Face road, length 8 miles, annual cost of maintenance (based on tho average cost i>er year for the past three years) £480; (2) Granity-Stoek-ton road, 4) miles, maintenance £320; (3) Westport-Brighton road, 30 miles, maintenance £600; total length of new highways recommended, 42) miles; total annual maintenance cost £I4OO. Inangahua County (present main highways, 40 miles). —(1) Reefton-Alar-uia road, 28 miles, maintenance £844 ; (2) main highway to AA r niuta, 8) miles; (3) Landing-Brown Creek read. 5 miles; total length of new highways recommended, 41) miles.

Grey County (present length. 22) miles).—Coastal road, Grcymmith-Pnn-akaiki, 26) miles, maintenance, £2129; (2) Ahaura-Haiipiri road, 23) miles, maintenance £854; (3) Biunner-Kotu-ku-Rotomanu-Inehbonnie road, 34) miles, maintenance £1334 ; total length of now highways recommended, 81 miles; total maintenance, £4317.

AA’est la ml County (present length of main highways, 155 miles). —(1) Koka-tahi-Koiterangi road. 12 miles, maintenance £1250; (2) Lake Kanieri road. 6J miles, maintenance £400; (3) Arthurstown road, 2) miles, maintenance £250; (4) Upper Kokatalii road, 4 miles, maintenance £S00; (5) Upper Koiterangi road, 5 miles, maintenance £250; (C) Blue Spur road, 4 1-3 miles, maintenance £200; total length of new highways recommended, 35 miles; total maintenance, £3150.

The Hokitika Borough Council submitted a list of streets to he dealt with as secondary highways. The Chairman pointed out that while 4 per cent of the petrol tax estimated at £28.000 would he available for the smaller Boroughs, lie considered the amount was earmarked solely for those streets now dealt with as main highways and which probably would l>e so declared!. Meanwhile those streets were being subsidised, and it was likely the subsidy would he increased. Air Evans pointed out that there were several streets in Hokitika apait from the highway streets which had to carry heavy traffic due to the fact that timber was brought in by lorries from the country and exported by rail. These might he considered subsidiary or secondary highways.

The Chairman did not think they could he included in that oategoiy in terms of the reading of the Boaid s circular. Additional funds would be available for the existing highway strects. This was accepted in the circumstances. The meeting then concluded.