MAIN ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4601, 14 September 1923, Page 3

MAIN ROADS.

DISCUSSION BY PLAINS COUNCIL. NO DECISION REACHED. : The motion, of which Cr. Parfitt gave notice at the previous meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council, that the road from Nethertpn to Waitakaruru via Turua, Grongo, and -Pipiroa be regarded as a main road for the purpose of the Main Highways Act, was formally moved hy Cr. Parfitt at Tuesday’s meeting and seconded by Cr. Madgwick. Cr. McLoughlin then moved his notice of motion to the effect that the main road be via Ngatea. Cr. Mayn seconded. ; The county engineer, Mr J. Higgins, reported as follows • • ‘Tn compliance with instructions received at your last special meeting I bave taken up the matter in regard to defining the main roads in the. county.. To dp this I find I must first of all determine the roads which in my opinion will serve in linking up the main highways. "In the first place I would mention that we have at least two main highways running through this county, one of which links up Auckland with the Coromandel Peninsula and the other is the main East Coast road. These important reads will run in. partnership with the Great South Road from Auckland:tp a junction to be fixed, by the Highways Board, probably in the vicinity of Pokeno, and will part company at a junction to be fixed in this county. .The. main highway to Thames is definitely fixed, having to. pass through Waitakaruru over a bridge .to be erected across the Piako River :at Pipiroa; then passing over the proposed Kirikiri bridge on the Waihoii River to Thames; then along the main Coast Road to Coromandel- -■ "In regard fed ’ the route the East Coast Road will take J would like to point out that there are several matters which must necessarily be considered before arriving at a conclusion. In the first place I doubt if it has yet been decided whether the route to Tauranga will be via Waihi or via Te Aroha and over Thompson's Track. I am of opinion, however, that these points win not materially affect the position so far as this county is concerned, as owing to the backward state pf t,he drainage the main road must pass through this county in a more easterly direction. “In glancing at the map it will ae seen that a considerable saving ir. distance can be made from Waitakaruru to Te Aroha by following the Maukoro Canal from a point near Mahuta Road, Waitakaruru, to junction again at a point, near Patetonga, and there is no question or doubt that in years to come when good drainage is effected this route, which must he abandoned in the meantime, will claim at-least.? to be one: iff the most important main highways running Through the county, : “ I find there are yet two routes which claim attention in regard to this section of the main East Coast highway, namely; the present Pipi-roa-Raeroa road and Ororgo-Nether-ton road. The former would pass through Ngatea along Kopuarahi and Pekapeka Road, and ■ would be shorter than its rival, and whether or not it is made a main highway it will be used as such when laid in permanent pavement?, it will be seen so far as I have gone that the route vi a Ngatea has a distinct advantage in distance. But there are other points which in my opinion count against it being declared the main highway. It will be seen that any alteration in the route the East Coast Read will take shall hot lessen the cost of constructing the ThamesAuckland road.. Therefore, if we suppose for the . moment that the Thames-Auckland highway is permanently constructed it is evident that a saving could be made in making Orongo the junction. This in itself, however, would not compensate for ' the increased distance, and so far as I have gone it would appear that the junction should be at PipiroT, Road corner. “We have, however, now reached a point which in my opinion should definitely decide the question in as much as we find that there is to be a main highway to link ur Thames and Coromandel with the East Coast and Hamilton. We find, also,, that the distance between Kopu and Paeroa is about the same, whether we take the old Thames-Paeroa road o’’ cross the Kirikiri bridge. Such being case, I am of opinion that there can be no doubt whatever that the Main Highways Board will take into consideration the facts mentioned and make Orongo the junction for a main righway leading from Thames to Waikato and Tauranga and from Auckland to the East Coast. “I might state that while writing I have treated- the matter as I .Should do if I were-employed outside of your Council, and while there are certain matters which I should be more conversant with I am of . opinion the main issue will be much on the lines I have indicated. ‘‘The roads which I consider should be classed as main: county roads in " the county are as follows; Miranda to Waitakaruru, Waitakarur,u-Mor-rinsvUle, Pipiroa Corner-Netherton, via Ngatea and Peka Peka road; Ngatea to Kaihere, thence on to Patetonga via deviation to connect with Patetonga Road ; Kaihere-Ohine-wai, Piako, Orongo to Paeroa, via Wilson’s Road; Kopuarahi, Orchard East, and Pipiroa roads.” Cr. Hare said he did not know how many roads would be main highways or w’hat places would be deemed of sufficient importance to, be touched. It would be very advisable t.o have a main road across the Plains so that travellers could see the marvellous duality of the land. He thought the direct line from Netherton through Ngatea to Waitakaruru should be > the main road. Cr. Harris asked whether it was intended to discuss the matter with neighbouring local bodies. Cr. Miller said that the representatives would not meet until called together by the Highways Beard. Cr.,Hayward said that in his opin-

ion there were only two possible routes: that from Netherton through Pnkapeka Road and Ngatea tp Waitakaruru, and from Netherton through Turua and the Kirikiri bridge to Thames. Cr. Parfitt said that the Main Highways Board would make the routes as short as possible. The Coromandel County would have to be considered. The shortest route for that county and Thames was over Kirikiri and Pipiroa bridges. Paeroa would be connected at, Orongo by the Netherton-Turua road. Cr. Hayward said that this was taking a one-sided view, as it was going right around the county. A greater amount pf traffic would come from the Bay of Plenty than from Coromandel and Thames, and the shortest, route for it should be the one to advocate. This was via Pekapeka Road and Ngatea. Cr. McLoughlin supported, contending that Coromandel did not deserve consideration as a very .small amount of traffic would come from there compared with that from East Coast. The chairman said that the Public Works Department, bad apparently decided on the route, as was shown by the reports of discussons in other parts of the province. In his opinion the Nether, ton-Turua-Orongo-Pipi-roa road would be the best for the three counties. Or. Madgwick said that if the bridges were accepted facts the position would be altered. Cr. Hare said the matter should be looked at from a national point of view. The chairman i emarked that everyone was working in the dark and it was useless to discuss the matte’- further. Cr. Hare concurred, and moved that discussion on the matter be deferred until further information was available. Cr. Hayward seconded, and it,he motion was carried. Crs. Harris, Miller, Hare, and Hayward voted for the motion and Crs. McLoughlin, Parfitt, and Madgwick against.