MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4794, 31 December 1924, Page 2

MINISTERIAL VISIT.

TOUR OF THE DISTRICT. MR. COATES ON THE PLAINS. fc A flying visit to the district was made during last week-end. by the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works and Railways, and PostmasterGeneral, accompanied by t is private secretary (Mr Aitken),. Mr L. B. Campbell, Public Works Department district engineer and chairman of the No. 2 District Highways Council; Mr L. May, Public Works resident engineer and Mr Welsh, publicity agency Railways Department. After spending part of Sunday at Waihi Beach the party left for Thames, Early on Monday morning a telephone message was received by the Hauiaki Plains County Clerk that the party, with Mr T. W. Rhodes, M. would be passing through Ngaten er. route to Pokeno, where the Postmaster-General was due at 3 p.m. to open a new post office. Mr Walton got in touch with members of the council, and the county chairman and Crs. Hayward and McLoughlin were present to intercept the party. Many matters were informally discussed. RAILWAY ROUTE. n regard to the route of the rail-— way, a plan shown by the Minister set out that the line would run straight from the Puke bridge and southward of Kerepeehi to the northern end of the Puhanga canal; thence a curve and a run parallel to Orchard East Road and away to Mangatarata. Further particulars, including the sites of stations, could not be gleaned from the plan at the time. BRIDGES. In reference to the Kirikiri bridge, the Minister explained to the county chairman that the next step was fox the Public Works Department to make a demand upon the various councils for their contributions. Being on the route of a main highway, there was nothing to prevent the council striking a rate by special order over the whole or part of the county for its contribution. A recent; amendment of the Finance Act for main highways purposes permitted this. Mr Coates recommended that this be done as soon as there was a majority of councillors favourable. The poll to wash out the existing bridge rating areas could then be put. The same applied to the Pipirca bridge. PIPIROA FERRY. The county chairman explained that the Thames Valley Electric Power Board had received permission to lay a 11,000-volt cable under the Piako River at the site intended for the proposed ferry, necessitating the erection of the ferry The cost might be more than originally estimated, and the council desired tcF' know if the Public Works Department or the Main Highways Board would contribute towards the additional sum. Mr Campbell; chairman of the No. 2 District Council of the Main Highways Board, said that when a few of the board members were through the district recently they advised proceeding with the ferry as quickly as possible, and as they realised the difficulty the council was in as to financing the bridge they would endeavour to nave a vote passed by the Highways Boil rd. Mr Coates mentioned that if he were boss of the highways scheme he would help to provide the ferry only as a temporary expedient. If the council would not go on. with the bridge (here the Minister gave a significant wave of his hand KAIHERE ROAD METALLING. A petition signed by 28 settlers of Kaihere was presented to the Minister by Cr. McLoughlin in wh’ch it was shown that the Kaihere road was the main outlet .through the Hauriiki Plains for the residents of Kaihere district and beyond to Patetonga, and except for a small portion it was of clay, which became impassable for most traffic during many months of the year. Owing to the nature of the land the petitioners were finding great difficulty in making a bare living from their sections, and were unable to pay a rate for metalling even a portion of the road. With any further taxation they would be driven off their farms. They therefore prayed that a contribution be given. The Minister said that it was a matter for the Minister for Lands, and lie would have pleasure in handing the petition to him. ■He asked what the council had done. Cr. McLoughlin said that .the council was not directly concerned as the Lands Department still controlled the road. Mr Campbell, district engineer, said that the Lands Department had applied to the Public Works Department for a grant. He mentioned that that department was applying for too many grants. This particular road waa five miles long, and would cost about £2OOO a mile. Mr May. resident engineer, said that the Lands Drainage Department had been given a grant of £lOOO on account of £5OOO. It was, however, having difficulty in finding its half share, as this had to be loaded on to the land. The position in regard to the loading of land for development purposes was explained, and the Minister said it was evident that the land was providing its share. The matter would receive consideration. KAIHERE-TOREHAPE ROAD. A plea for assistance in the improvement of that section of the Mor-rinsville-Waitakaruru road between Kaihere and Torehape was made by Cr. McLoughlin, who pointed out that the total amount of rates collected from the adjoining land was only about £5O, half of which was required elsewhere. The district engineer said that the Lands Department could n?t find money for this road, so the local body would have to dp so. There was

a g for £ subsidy on the estimates. Mr May mentioned that £l5O had been recommended as a free gi ant. "Mr Coates asked Mr Cambpell tc look into the matter, and concluded by saying: “If you can recommend it, let us give it to Mr McLoughlin so that he won’t come back to trouble us again ” X’ETHERTON ROADING. The letter sent recently bs' the county engineer to the Ministei asking foi subsidies for the proposed riding roading scheme for Netherton, a copy of which was read by Mr Basham at the meeting of ratepayers on the 10th inst., was read to the Minister, who replied stating that the matter would be looked into. The council should keep in touch with the Public Works Department and watcn for next year’s grants. The party only remained in Ngatea about half an hour, during which time the above business was transacted and moriiing tea partaken of.