ROADING OF PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4836, 29 May 1925, Page 3

ROADING OF PLAINS.

A COUNTY SCHEME. FOR MAIN COUNTY ROADS. With the advent of the main highways scheme those districts along the route are in a more fortunate position in regard to their roading problems than other parts of a county, and to overcome this position the question of making other roads than those declared main highways has been discussed informally by members of the Hauraki Plains County Council, for some time.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the council the matter was referred to several times by councillors in open meeting, and probably to enable ratepayers to understand the-references the matter was brought before the council for the first time by the county clerk. He explained the. reasons why the •scheme would be desirable and outlined the various roads which had been suggested as main county roads. The roads to be classed as main county roads were : Turua-Netherton Road from the main highway at Orongo to the main highway at the corner of Pekapeka Road and the road from Ngatea to the country boundary on the Maukoro deviation, via, Kaiherc and Patetonga, but through the proposed deviation near Kaiherc that would join the lower Patetonga Road, and straight through to Ngarua Road. Eventually these roads would be permanently surfaced, but in the meantime ordinary water-bound macadam would suffice. Included in the scheme was the cost of bridges. The roads adopted would, in conjunction with the main highway scheme, give an outlet for every part of the county to cither Waitakaruru, Kirikiri, Puke, or Maukoro, and the estimated cast of putting these roads in order, allowing for subsidies, Was l%d rate on the whole country. Under the scheme the main roads—not main highways— would be maintained by a rate over the whole country, thus reducing the general rate, or making more of it. available for by-roads. The councillors were asked to think the matter over, so that the scheme could be discussed fully at a later date.

Cr. Mayn said that the Ngarua bridge should be included in the scheme.

Mr Walton said his scheme could be altered or amended as desired, but it was obvious that if much was added the cost would be increased.

Cr. McLoughlin also advocated the Ngarua. bridge, contending that his riding would not support the scheme bridge would nofbe an opening one, unless the bridge was included. The as! the railway bridge below it would block the river traffic. Cr. Hare asked whether the Netherton riding could be cut out of the scheme without detriment. The riding was at one end of the county and was already heavily rated.

Mr Walton declared that this would not be practicable. Cr. Hare stated that the Netherton riding would not support any scheme which included the building of bridges unless these bridges were paid for by the settlers getting the direct benefit. Cr. Mayn said it did not matter how many bridges were included so loiig as the rate was not too high. Cr. Hare remarked that the riding could get all its. roads metalled for a. 2d rate, and could maintain its main road with a /ad rate.

Mr Walton pointed out that the road through Netherton was used by tlie people of the whole of the- Plains when going to Paeroa, and it would be fairer to make the maintenance a charge over the whole county. The question was a big one, and all aspects tshould be considered. In reply to Cr. Hare Mr Walton said that his estimated rate of .included the existing bridge rates. Cr. Parfitt suggested that a committee be set up to prepare a comprehensive report showing the position from the point, of view of each and every riding. He moved that the committee be Crs. Miller, Mayn, Hairis, and Parfitt.

Several councillors opposed the proposition, and eventually it. was agreed that the engineer and clerk bring down a comprehnsive report showing the cost of the work also if undertaken by the various ridings.