PATETONGA ROADING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4573, 11 June 1923, Page 3

PATETONGA ROADING.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. A very well attended meeting of Ratepayers was held at Patetonga on Friday afternoon to discuss rpading matters with members of the County Council. There were present Councillors J. C. Miller, (chairman), W. GHaywardJ F. Mayn, C. W. Harris, T. McLoughlin, the .clerk, Mr E. Walton, and the-engineer, Mi; J. Higgins. Mr D. J. Rogers was elected chairman. Gr. Mayn, in, opening the meeting, said that it had been called to arrive at some understanding in regard to the taking over, of l the roads by the Council from the Lands. Depai tment. He had contended that the Department should metal the roads beforehanding them over. They had collected a maintenance rate,, but had not expended money around Pate-' tonga. He suggested making application for a £2 to £1 subsidy. The Drainage Department and the Public -Works Department should each give a pound subsidy to the Council’s pound. Many ratepayers were not conversant with the arrangements by which ’the Council took over the roads. *The Council had fought hard to have the roads metalled, but the Department had forced the Council to take them as they were. The Department had promised to reclay some of the roads. If a subsidy was obtained-all the roads couli be metal- ■ ed by raising a loan within the tiding. Metal was. available close by, and could be put on the road at a cheap ■. In reply tp Mr Wilkens Cr. Mayn said that the;- Department was under no obligation except to reclay the roads Mq E:T. Wilkens said that no roads within-the county were in such a state as those within the Patetonga riding. J He had understood from the Drainage Engineer that the roads would be properly metalled before being handed over. Cr. Miller said that the Council 'had hot taken over the rohds. The roads were forced on to the CouncilThey had no say in the matter. The Department had said that to clay and reclay reads xost more than to metal roads. They promised verbally to liberally subsidise the Council for money spent on metalling. The Department had asked the Council to define an area that they wished to control. , The area defined did not include 'any of the Patetpnga riding. The Department had handed over all the land' that had been settled for three years, and other areas would be rated three years after, being settled. The Council was opposed to taking over the Patetonga riding. The Department had said that it would be madness to metal roads before the peat had consolidated. Mr Wilkens contended that some of the roads were in a fit state to be metafled. . The county clerk read the Council's records on the matter. All the roads within the Hauraki Plains Special Rating Area were county roads. The Council had said that the Department should metal all the roads or should pay the Council for doing the work. The Department had informed the Council that they reserved the right to metal roads or to pay •the Council for so doing. The Council had maintained that the Department. was legally and morally bound to metal the roads, but the Department had denied this; The Council had pointed but that some, metalling had been done. To this the Department had replied' that, it suited them to metal certain roads, but it was not the policy of the Department. The department contended that, the settlers. on the Plains were more favourably treated than those in other parts of the country. In reply to Mr Wilkens Mr Walton said that, the Department had said that the -people who paid the drainage rates should cqjrtrol the drains, and drainage boards should be formed to take over control. In reply to Cr. Mayn Mr Walton said that one of the questions tjie Council had asked the Department concerned drains. The Department had said that they would restrict their rates within the county. • Im reply to Mr Wilkens Mr Walton said that the “Hauraki Plains Act, 1908,” said that “thirds, flax and timber royalties go to the Crown, notwithstanding anything in the Land Act.” In reply to Mr J. Patterson Cr. Mayn said that the land around Patetonga had up to the present not been rated, and consequently the Council had not, done any work there. Mr A. J. McDonald said that if the Government would, not metal the roads would the Council raise, a loan and have the work done. Mr Wilkens said that the meeting should urge the Council to clay the roads before metalling them. „ In reply to Mr Wilkens Mr Walton said that the rate on £lo,ooo' over the Patetonga riding would probably be a little less than 2d. Mr Wilkens said that the Government should be urged to improve the ‘ btulets, as any flood damaged the roads, several of which were unde" water for some days during the last flood. Mr Mayn pointed out that the Department- had said that unless the river was improved and the Maukbro canal opened all drainage in this area would not be effective. ■ _ Mr Wilkens said that the meeting should urge the Government to expedite drainage.matters, and moved that this meeting enter a strong protest against the action of the Government in handing over the roads to the County Council; and begs the Government to appoint a responsible officer to go over the roads in the Patetonga riding with the county engineer or any other competent person with a view to efficiently claying the roads before finally making the ratepayers responsible. Mr J. Patterson seconded, and said that unless something was done the roads would be a quagmire and Patetonga would be isolated. Mr H. Taylor moved that the resolution be amended to read “claying and to be metalled in proportion to that done in other ridings.” When

the*land was opened up the cost was higher than in other parts. The settlers understood that the roads shoftld be metalled. The rates he had paid must have been expended elsewhere. Patetonga had not fought as hard as settlers in other parts, as they were too busy in getting drainage facilities. Now something should be done to get road grants. Mr Wilkens agreed to amend the motion. The motion was supported by Cr. Mayn, Mr A. J. McDonald, and others, and on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously. Mr J. Patterson moved that it be a recommendation to the Council to metal the top road from the metalled portion of Ngarua. Road to the boundary of the Patetonga riding. Cnosiderable discussion arose as to which road should be made the main outlet road. Different speakers advocated making the outlet to Ngatea, Ohinewai, Paeroa, and Morrinsville. Cr. McLaughlin said that, the settlers on' the Ngarua road wanted a flat road to Patetonga. They were also prepared to support the Ohinewai road, but would not support the hill road to Patetonga. Mr Wilkens said that when the Maukoro canal was constructed a good main arterial road would be made on the stop-bank. Cr. McLoughlin said that the Council had urged the Government to make the flat road. The motion was seconded by Mr A. Whiteman. Alter considerable discussion Mr Harris moved that the matter toe deferred till a later meeting. Seconded by Mr A. Paton and carried by 19 to 7. Mr McDonald moved that the Council’s representative when in Wellington endeavour to secure a revaluation of the soldier settlers’ sections. Seconded by Mr N. Wallis. •It was pointed out that this hal already been done, but. the report had not ye.t come before the -Land Board. The county clerk pointed out that the settlers east of the* Maukoro drain line were not. liable for rates. The valuation fm- rating purposes Was much lower than the purchase price. On the motion being put it was carried unanimously. * Crs. Hayward and Harris said that in their opinion the Council would Mipport the proposition. Cr. McLoughlin moved that the County representative while in Wellington urge that the Lands Department extend Patetpnga Road to Ngarua Road in accordance with a promise made by the Under-Secretary of Lands. Seconded by Mr J. Hodge. Mr Wilkens moved that the matter be deferred until a later. meeting. The Lands Department had turned the proposition down before. A better and cheaper rpad would be formed on the canal stop-bank. The amendment was seconded by Mr Patterson, and after much discussion it was defeated by 17 to 11. The motion was put and carried. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the councillors for being present, and to the chair.