NETHERTON ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4884, 30 September 1925, Page 1

NETHERTON ROADS.

PREPARATIONS OF SCHEME. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE. ’Matters In connection with the Ntetherton reading scheme were difsctifssed at a meeting of the Ratepayers’ Associtaion on Saturday evening. On account of the weather there was only a small attendance. Mr T. Vowles, president, w,as in the chair, and in opening the meeting said that it had been called to, among other things, appoint a small committee to work in conjunction with the county engineer and the riding representative.

The engineer, Mr F. Basham, who was present by invitation, congratulated the settlers on the unmistakable manner in which they had supported the loan. He had been told that the people of, Netherton never knew their own mind, but he had never before seen a loan poll carried by 'such a big majority. Not much of the work could be done during the coming summer, except by way of getting everything in readiness for a very busy time next season. It was first necessary to raise the loan money, and this would probably take some time. It would probably be advisable for the council to endeavour to get the bank to hypothecate debentures. The council had already taken up the matter of the subsidies and had appointed Cns. Hare and Madgwick and himself to interview the Public Works Department. It wais too .late to get the votes on the supplementary estimates, this year. The subsidy for Wilson’s Road would come from the Highways Board, and the proposals had been sent forward within three days of the sanctioning of ,the loam He had done everything possible to expedite the work. In fact, s'o confident had he been that the loan would'be carried, that he had altered hiis plans in regard ,to the design of the Hikutaia quarry and scrapped about £2OO worth of work so that the rate of output would be doubled and the cost decreased. The alteration was warranted in view of the magnitude of the demand that was now in sight. Originally he had intended using the One set of trucks to transport the boulders to the crusher, and the crushed metal to the hoppers. He might be roundly abused by some for having changed his plan, but he contended that the . change was justified and would prove .sound in view' of the altered circumstances.

hi regard .to Wilson’s Road, which was the first road, to be done, it was his intention to lay it down as a macadam ro ( ad for the meantime, until ‘he foundations had become thoroughly consolidated. He was convinced that by proper niaintenance the road could be kept in first-class order for four or five years with the metal first put bn. At the end of that period the question of bitumen sealing it or continuing to maintain it as a macadam road could be considered. Owing to the unstable nature of the foundations bn the Plains he had very grave doubts whether bitumen was going to be a success in the district, and though he was not condemning bitumen he would prefer to make sure that the foundations of any road he was to bitumen seal had become consolidated and all the weak spots discovered and rectified.

As soon as the Pekapeka, Road and Turua South jobs were completed the whole of the output from the Hikutaia quarry would be diverted to Netherton. All the winter the., metal would be stacked at convenient points, so that the work could be pushed on rapidly the following summer. Mr Basham made a:, suggestion for cheapening the cost of , the scheme by using light motor-trucks, which would be purchased out of the road loan. He gave figures showing that it would pay to purchase ,the trucks, ,as the saving that would be effected would be much more than the cost of the trucks. „ Questions were answered by the engineer, and the opinion was expressed by ratepayers that the suggestion, to secure trucks was a sound one. Cr. Hare congratulated the settlers of the district on the progressive spirit shown at the poll. It was necessary for that spirit to be maintained until the work was completed. Active men were required on the roads committee to work in conjunction with the engineer and the riding representative. He did not'intend to stand at .the next county election. The county was fortunate in having such an engineer as Mr Basham. When Mr Basham took the position of engineer he (Cr. Ha,re) thought he was but he had since learnt that .this was in the interests of the settlers. Mr BaJsham knew hip job and could be depended upon to carry it but. It was necessary to concentrate all energies towards the raising of the loan money and preparing so .that the work could be carried on without interruption once it commenced. * In regard to the committee he w,as of the opinion that it should be as small, as possible. If representatives were appointed from every road it would be productive of .argument, as each member would strive to get his own road done first.. Nominations, were then, reveived for the committee, but as these were numerous it w.as decided that representatives be appointed from the various districts to select ,a committee of three.

The representatives appointed were: Pukahu Road, Messrs. W. Reid, Jamieson, and Townsend; Awaiti, MtessSis. Bradshaw, Crosby, and Harold ; Fisher’s and School Roads, Messrs. Fisher, Paul, and Coldicut; Old Main Road, Messrs. Harms, J. .Reid, and Chester; WilSonfe Road, Messrs. Johnson, Vowles, and