KIRIKIRI BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4595, 31 August 1923, Page 3

KIRIKIRI BRIDGE.

TURUA’S NEW ASPECT. ARTERIAL ROADS SUGGESTED. A proposition that, it was claimed, wnnld remove all the opposition to the Kirikiri bridge was submitted by Mr D. G. McMillan to the annual meeting of the Turua Ratepayers’ Association on Wednesday evening. The situation, said Mr McMillan, had changed somewhat of lat,e, as the Main’ Highways Bill would come into force very shortly. The grouping of counties had been agteed upon, and very shortly the delegates would be conferring on the main arterial • rbads question. The matter would be decided by the Board, but the Public Works Department would have a big say. The : people of Hauraki Plains should decide yvhat should be .the main arterial road on the Plains. Undoubtedly the Auckland-Paeroa road would be a main road, and perhaps t,o Thames a subsidiary road. The Paeroa J Auckland road and the Thames road would touch at Kopu and Dalgety’s corner on the Waitakaruru Road. The distances by various routes,, said Mr McMillan,, were interesting. Paeroa to Dalgety’s corner, via Ngatea 19 miles, via Turua 19%miles. Paeroa to Kopu,, via Hikutaia 16% miles, via Turua 17 miles. Kopu to Dalgety’s corner 7% miles, Turua to Dalgety’s corner 7 miles. OrongoTurua junction to Dalgety’s 5% miles, and from Turua to Kopuarahi school 4% miles. From t,he river via Pekapeka Road to Dalgetyfe corner was 12% miles,, and from the same point to the Paeroa railway station was 6% miles. The distance of the main highway road from Paeroa, through Turua and Orongo, to Dalgety’s corner, including the distance from Orongo to Kopu to connect with Thames,, would be 22% miles; but if two routes were suggested the first would be from Paeroa to Kopu, a disr tance of 16% miles, and the second, route would be from Paeroa to Dalgety’s corner via Ngatea, a - distance of 19 miles. To connect these two routes, from Kppu to Dalgety’s corner, the distance would be 7% miles, making a total mileage of 43 miles. Without this connection the length of road would be 35%miles. ’ The saving on the whole distance of 43 miles if the-Turua-Orongo route was accept 3d would be approximately 21% miles. The saving in adopting the one route, assuming that the cost was £2OOO a mile, would be £43,500. The Govern*ment would save half and the county the other half of this amount. With this saving the county could build the Kirikiri bridge and have £9oooi-odd to spare. . The position was, therefore, sail Mr McMillan, should not Turua remove its opposition to the Kirikiri and Pipiroa bridges if the main road wculd come the way suggested. Undoubtedly there would be opposition to this route, but the Highways Board would consider the ? road with the lowest cost. It was of no use opposing the bridges, as they were bound to come in time. He advocated sinking the differences and getting t,he main road and saving on construction and on maintenance. It would be the making of the district. He was sure that Turua and Netherton would support the proposal. Mr Zeigler supported the proposal, contending that the proposed road was obviously the best one for all concerned. - - Mr McMillan, in response to a ques-‘ tion, said that he suggested that the road go to Orongo; as then all that was necessary to link Thames with the main highway was the bridge. Mr Madgwick said .that his objection to the Kirikiri bridge was because of the cost and the question of using section 119. of the Public Works Act He was sure’ that the bridge would come in time. Mr Henry said that when there were facilities for crossing the Waihou River the traffic-wpuld undoubtedly come on the level road througn Turua and Netherton to Paeroa. The proposal was a practicable one. He was of the opinion that the Highways Board would compensate the local body if it was decided t,o utilise a road that had recently been improved. This would be a good thing. A main road through Turua would be very acceptable as a business proposition, an! should be acceptable to the Ohinemuri and Thames county people as better than the present road along the hills. The traffic would eventually cross the river and use the Turua-Netherton road. For- this reason alone it would be a paying proposition to have the road declared a main road so tjiat the Highways 'Board would share the cost of maintenance. ‘ It was decided, on the motion of Mr McMillan, seconded by Mr Henrv, that the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association be asked to meet the Turua association in conference at Netherton to discuss the matter.