NETHERTON ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4605, 24 September 1923, Page 3

NETHERTON ROADS.

COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME. RATEPAYERS FAVOUR BITUMEN. A meeting of the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association was held on Saturday evening to discuss reading matters. Mr J. Munro presided over an attendance of about 25. Grs. J. C. Miller, J. H. Nicholson, W. Madgwick, H. Hare, the county clerk (Mr E. Walton), and the county ; engineer (Mr J. Higgins) were present by invitation. In opening the meeting the chairman said that it had been called at the suggestion of the County Council ' to discuss a reading scheme for the ■.- whole of the riding. The estimates prepared by the county engineer .were as follows: Kerepeehi boundary to Wilson’s Road • corner‘(bitumen), 170 chains by 121 t / wide, £5543 17s; Wilson’s Road, (bitumen), 140 chains by 12ft, £4800; Puke Road: Wilson’s Road to bridge (bitumen), 40 chains by 12ft, £1237 7s 6d, old main road, Netherton ■ School to Wilson’s Road corner, .220 chains by. 10ft, £3124 ; Rangiora Road, > 60 chains by 10ft, £934 Stop-bank Road,. 110 chains by 10ft, £2676 13s; Pukahu Road, 170 chains by 10ft, £4848 15 ; Awaiti Road, 200 chains by 16ft, £4534 12s 6d; Awaiti West Road, 112 chains by 10ft, £2522 7s 6d: Awaiti extension south to county boundary, 200 chains by .10ft, £5420 7s 6d; School Road, 102 chains by 10ft, £2423 ; Fisher’s Road, 148 chains by 10ft, £3492 ; Munro’s Road, - 36 chains by 10ft, £948 7s 6d; total, £42.505 8«. Contingencies £994 12s, grand total £43,500. The depth of metal specified varied according to the amount already on the roads. On unmetalled roads the death stipulated was nine inches. The cost; of metal varied according to locality, being 18s 6d on the flrst- ■ mentioned road, Puke Road 17s 6d, Stop-bank. Road 19s, Old Main Road, Rangiora, School, and Fisher’s reads 205,-Pukahu, Munro’s, and the three Awaiti roads 22s 6d. Water-bound macadam roads worfld be blinded and ; rolled. In reply to questions the engineer said that the extra cost for bitumen sealing was roughly about £7 10s a chain. It was difficult to say what subsidies would be available. Cr. Hare pointed put that £ for £ subsidies had already been granted on Wilson’s Road (£1600), Netherton to Awaiti (£300), Troughton’s (£5OO on account of 21000 1 ), Sclipoi. Road (£lOO on account of £1000), Stop-bank Road (contribution £600). Other grants might be obtained, so there would be no heed to raise the full amount estimated. . . ’ Mr Walton explained that of the old Netherton Roads loan of £15,000 there had been £7971 9s 2d raised and £4266 10s lid spent, leaving a credit in hand of £3704 18s 3d and a little over £7OOO ydt to be lifted. These figures should be taken into consideration when weighing the new scheme. In reply to Mr Heappy Mr Higgins said that the subsidies on the main road at Troughton’s and other roads had- not:yet been lifted, as the work had not yet been completed up to the , Public Works Department’s specifica--4% tions. Some progress payments were, however, available. Mr W. Simpson said that it appeared that about £34,000 .would be the amount required to be raised. He asked Mr Walton what rate this would require. Mr Walton said that on this amount . the ,rate on the unimproved value of the ; whole of the riding would be 4d in the £. Cr. J. C. Miller, chairman of the. County Council, said he congratulate l the riding in making a ‘otarr. for a comprehensive scheme. The old loan was only for half of the roads, yet all the riding had to pay. The pld manner of road-making did not appear to be a success. Good metal was now . available, and if the roads were tarsealed they would last for years. The present scheme was for 4 .ne hulk o F - the roads in the riding, ard it was . preferable to be taken as a whole if • it was within the reach ol Cr. Hare asked the county chairman how the Council would assist the riding in getting metal. By the present method enough metal would not be* available fbr years. Mr Simpson said that ridings in several other counties were adopting .the principle of comprehensive schemes for the whole of the ridings. There was a general move throughout the Dominion in that direction. In reply to Mr Jamieson Cr,-Millen said that the experience of other counties. had been that when tarsealed roads were laid down the general rates had been reduced to a minimum. Ur. Madgwick said that the estimates did not provide for the tarsealing of all the roads of the riding. In his opinion this would be money well spent.- The experience in Taranaki was that good roads reduced rates/ Settlers in Taranaki took a pride in their roads, and thought the amount of the rate not worth mentioning. He urged the ratepayers to fc, get together and start a comprehensive scheme going. It was not advisable to spend the old loan now, as the old specifications were inadequate. It would be.useless to put four inches of metal on clay roads. Cr. Miller, in reply to a . question, said that the great trouble’was to get the metal transported. If the machinery loan was carried more punts could be attained. No other way of transporting metal was available. The Council had. four punts, and two were in commission how. The third would be available in a few days. He thought that it would pay the county to purchase, a punt out of riding funds. In reply to Mr Wakeham the en- . giveer said that the question of when ■ the proposed scheme would be completed depended on the facilities jL available. More punts would be purchased when the ratepayers authorised the raising of the machinery loan. Crs. Madgwick and Hare said tha‘the riding was fortunate in not having the old. loan expended years ago. The specifications were such that the roads would now be hopelessly worn

out. Metal was cheaper than ft was when the old loan was raised. In reply to a questioner the engineer said that it would be cheaper to use Hikutaia metal for the roads at the northern end of the riding than to use Paeroa metal. The Hikutaia quarry would supply all the metal required in the eastern part of the county. In reply to a question Mr Walton said that ratepayers’ names were not struck off until their rates were in arrears for six months. Cr. Miller agreed with Mr Simpson that a comprehensive scheme would cost much less than if the work was done in small jobs. The office work would also be much less. It was pointed out, by a member that a substantia)} grant should be available, as the reading scheme would open up Crown lands, Cr. Miller said that the Council always endeavoured to get as much as possible from the Government in the way of grants and subsidies. Cr. Madgwick pointed out the subsidies obtained on roads about Turua as the result of a deputation to Wellington. In regard to the spending of the old loan,, Mr Walton said that this would be spent exactly as authorised. The proposed loan would be additional and supplementary Cr, Madgwick urged that all the roads should be tar sealed. Mr Simpson moved that this meeting of ratepayers of Netherton Riding give the Council authority to raise a loan to complete all the roads in the riding. Mr Jamieson seconded. Mr M. A. Carter said that he was not in favour. The main highway would come through Netherton, and to his mind before the work was comjfleted grants would be made to make this main highway a first-class road. In his opinion the back roads only should be done now. Cr. Hare said that a ratepayer could vote against tlie scheme. The Council would only raise the money as required, and should the main Highways Board bring forth a proposition there would be no need to raise the whole sum. Mr Carter said that in his area there was no doubt of a loan for the smaller area being carried. Cr. Hare said that the settlers of Carter’s Road would then have to pay rates op the small road scheme and also high maintenance rates on the main roads. Cr. Madgwick said that the main highway was still rather visionary, and should not be considered. Mr J. Wakeham moved as an amendment that the matter be deferred until further particulars in regard to the rating were available and a statement otbained as to when the work could be commenced and completed. Mr P. Harold seconded. Mr Walton said that this had already been explained. Cr. Nicholson spoke in favour of the comprehensive scheme for; bitumen roads. ' On the amendment being put to the meeting it was lost by a big majority. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Munro said he was pleased that the motion was carried. Small loans meant heavy rates for the maintenance of unmetalled roads. Cr. Madgwick urged that wide roads only be considered. Mr M. A. Carter urged that the tarsealing of all roads be considered. Cr. Hare was of the opinion that ordinary metal covered with blinding would be sufficient. The engineer said that roads should be made to last for the period of the road loan. It was bad business otherwise. Mr M. A. Carte? said that the life of a metal road under first-class conditions was only five years. After a little discussion on the merits of bitumen compared with tar Mr Carter moved and Mr Simpson seconded that all the roads of the Netherton riding be finished with bitumen. On the motion being put it. was carried , one voice only opposing. The meeting closed at midnight with a vote of thanks to the councillors, the clerk, and the engineer for attending.