AWAITI NEEDS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4408, 1 May 1922, Page 1

AWAITI NEEDS.

ROADS AND DRAINAGE. BETTER ACCESS TO PAEROA. DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER. A number of Await! settlers warted on the Minister of Public Works (Hon, J. G. Coates) on in reference to rpads and drains in that district. The spokesman, Mr Roberts,, said : “We the undersigned settlers, situated on the west bank of the Waihou River, opposite the Ngararahi cut, on the Pttkahu and South Awaiti roads, desire to place before you the hardships we are compelled to endure through lack of roads and poor drainage—two things which are essential to us as dairy fjarmers, for without them there is little chance of us making much progress. “We are situated from 2% to four miles from Paeroa, by the canal bank which we make use of as our outlet. Should we be prevented from making- use of this route, or should it become impassable during the winter, we would be compelled to make Awaiti via Netherton to Paeroa road our outlet, a distance ofi from 10 to 12 miles. Oui’ properties are only partly improved ; therefore they are not very productive,, and the difference between and 4' miles, as against 10 to 12 miles on the cartage of cream, etc., is very great. There is about 100 chains of Stop-bank between the main road' at the Puke bridge and the Pukahu Road, and we understand there is a" grant of £6OO on the Public Works Estimates for the formation of a_rbad to one side v of the stop-bank, and, as ’the f'drmatio i and metalling of this road is such ’.i costly undertaking, we would suggest thr.t you have the money expended in forming the proposed road. and giving it. a heavy coating of sand, iwhica would be pumped out of the river at a small cost, and would give us a very serviceable road. “As an' alternative, we would suggest the pumping of a quantity of sand on to the stop-bank itself, thereby saving most of the formation, and several culverts that would be required if! the former suggestion were acted upon. This would give us an equally serviceable road, and it would .rest with your Department which one was the more commendable. “Further, if you accede to our request in regard to the above, we would ask that while the dredge is pumping sand for ’this work you would at the same time grant us sufficient sand to cover a distance of 60 chains on the Pukahu Road which we will undertake to have placed on that road ourselves. t DRAINAGE.

“We would also impress upon you the necessity of pushing' on’ with th2

drain now in course of; construction from the Netherton end, and which is intended to pass ’through our block, as it will be of great assistance to us in the draining of our lands. Wo have suffiered seriously through floods in the past, and only recently to the extent of some hundreds of pounds through the flood-water coming in by way of the flood-gates, which the Department intend to close on the completion of the aforementioned drain. While it is necessary fpr the Department to keep the floodgates open we would suggest that they appoint a man to attend to them in time of flood, to prevent them from becoming blocked, and so obviate a recurrence of the trouble we have previously experienced.

“As struggling .we appeal to you for your assistance in the above matters, and we believe that your very wide experience isj connection with local bodies, drainage boards, stop-banks,? etc., and your knowledge of the trials of the backblocks settler will induce you to accede to our requests.”

Mr Furkett said there should be no trouble in getting tihie Hauraki Plains County Council to legalise the road. The Minister : You get the survey, an 1 we will go on with the work. We will stir the County Council up again,, and you stir them up, too. (Laughter.) The Minister said drain "H.” was going to be continued.