TURUA-NETHERTON ROAD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4809, 11 February 1925, Page 3

TURUA-NETHERTON ROAD

PRIORITY OVER KEREPEEHI ROAD COUNCIL’S LATEST. DECISION. At yesterday’s meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council the matter of the order in which the roads in the Turua southern area were to be completed came up for discussion, as

promised. The engineer in his monthly report stated that the first course work on Orchard East Road had been completed and the tram rails lifted from Hamilton’s Road. A section of the Turua-Nethcrton main road had been scarified, graded, and rolled in readiness for new metal.

The engineer stated that on bis visit to Wellington he had been received,. very favourably, and his request to raise the whole of the loan would probably be granted in a day or two.

Cr. Mayn said that there was thus no need to alter the procedure of the work. Both jobs could be commenced.

The clerk pointed out that the discussion v;as. out of. order, ns a notice of motion had been given bv Cr. Harris, and this would bring the matter tip. ■ ■

It was decided to suspend standing orders for the purpose.

Cr. Mayn queried, whether the notice o< motion was in order, but later decided not to press the point.

Cr. Harris then moved, in accordance with his notice of intention, that the minute stating that the Kere-peeht-Wharepoa Road be proceeded with in preference to the TuruaNetherton "Road be rescinded. Cr. Hayward seconded.

- Cr. Mayn moved as an amendment that the work on the Kerepeehi"Wharepoa Road be proceeded with simultaneously with that on the Tu-rua-bletherton Road, and that the rail? required be purchased.

Cr. Nicholson seconded, contending that the Wharepoa4<erepeehi Road had been delayed long enough.

The chairman .asKed how many tram rails would be required. The council would probably let much of its future work by contract, and it would not be advisable to secure a big stock ®

■ The • engineer stated that in three weoks’ time there would be ample rail? available for the Kerepeehi Road work. If both jobs were to be done simultaneously more trucks would be required. It was his intention, to immediately commence laying the rails now available from the Wharepoa ferry. Three weeks’ work would, complete a portion only of the mb in road. The rails would then be used to complete the Kerepeehi road, after which the remainder of the main road could be completed. He w.as very adverse to purchasing more rails, as he did not think them necessary. Although permissien had been given to raise the loan money it Would not be available for some weeks, so it would be impossible to proceed rapidly.

Cr. Mayn advocated securing more rails, and was supported by Cr. McLoughlin, who pointed out that rails did not depreciate.

Cr. Hare - urged that the rails be laid i/om. the-Wharepoa ferry to the rofier, so that three roads could be attended to from there.

The engineer replied that he intended to do this.

Cr. McLoughlin urged that the rails be la:d so that the road from TuruaNeiherton Road to the ferry could be ■.itended to.

- After more argument Cr. Mayn said ‘bat while he was satisfied that there •ver" sufficient rails available he would move that half a-mile-of rails be purchased, as it would be a good investment and would enable the council to do the work that had been promised. He was very adverse to any breaking-of pledges.

The chairman pointed out that a prior pledge had been given that after the O’-chard East ajnd Newman’s roads bad been metalled the main road would be attended to. To now defer the work would be to break thy p'ledge, bu« when the Kerepeehi road broke up and the Turua-Nethertdn rbad appeared likely to stand over the winter the council had decided to do the Kerepeehi road. Nowi the conditionV wcre again reversed, and the main road urgently required attention.

The engineer pointed out that if the half mil.e of rails proposed to be purchased were obtained immediate!/ the work would not be expedited, as ho trucks would, be available until the other job was completed. The rails would then be available, so there was no necessity to purchase more.

Cr. Mayn then withdrew his amend- ( ment, and moved in its stead the work lie proceeded with as follows ; 10 chains of rails to be bud on the Kerepeehi-Wharepoa road, 60 chains of rails to be laid on the Turua-Neth-erton road to the Te Kauri drain, and wheji this 60 chains of roads has been finished the rails to be shifted to tne Kerepeehi-Wharepo.a road, which is then to be finished before other work is done. Seconded by Cr. McLoughlin. ■Crs. Hayward and Parfitt opposed, contending • ithat no concrete reason had been given for deferring the completion of the Turua-Netherton road. The amendment was then put to the meeting. Crs. Mayn, McLoughlin, Hare, and .-Nicholson voted for, and Crs. Miller, Harris, Hayward, and Parfitt against. The chairman gave his casting vote and declared the amendment lost. The motion was then put, and the voting again being equal, the chairman gave his casting vote and declar- ' ed the resolution rescinded. Cr. Hayward moved that the TuruaNetherton road be completed. Crs. McLoughlin and Hare opposed, contending that the Kerepeehi road would be left all winter. The motion was seconded by Cr. ■ Parfitt and carried on the. chairman’s casting vote, the grouping of the votes • being the same as in the other resolutions. • The clerk was instructed to taite .steps to raise the loan.