KEREPEEHI ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4994, 30 June 1926, Page 1

KEREPEEHI ROADS.

TOWNSHIP METALLING SCHEME.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. The Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association met in the Public Hall on Monday evening, Mr H. Hoff presiding over Messrs J. Murdock, W. Shilton, A. J, limes, W. Herk.t, C. Loving, Middleton, and W. Booth, lion, secretary. Cr. A. S. Fisher was present by invitation.

The meeting was called to discuss the question of the metalling of the township roads, and the following letters on the subject were read On Setpe.mber 30 last the Minister of Lands wrote advising that the Public Works Department bad been 'requested to provide a subsidy of £137'5 (£ for £) on the Public Works estimates. The total cost of the work was estimated to be £2750'. Further consideration had been given to the metalling of the roads in the township, and approval ha,d been given of the Lands Department subsidising the work to an extent of a, further £7 fol each chain of frontage held by the Crown. The. amount would be £555, and this would leave the settlers to provide £B2O to complete the metalling. The Minister of Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, wrote on June 22 in reply to the association’s recent letter, and a.dvised that, the Public Works Department had been requested to re-vote the item on the Public Works Appropriations of la.st year for the .metalling of the Kerepeehi township roads. The subsidy of £7 for each chain of frontage held by the, Crown in the township refers to the following roads : — Kaikahu Road, 25.5 chains ; Rimu Street, 26 chains; Rata Street, 4 chains; Ma.tai Street, 6.5 chains; Miro Street, 17.5 chains ; total, 79.5 chains.

Referring to the matter of the subsidy for the metalling of the School Road, the Minister advised that this had again been taken up with the Public Works Department, and the association would be further advised a.s to what subsidy will be provided on the, current year’s Public Works Estimates in this connection.

Mr J. Murdock said that with these grants the settlers would be foolish to defer action any longer.

In reply to Mr Booth, Cr. Fisher said that the proposed county roading scheme would not affect, the raising df a loan or the township roads.

In reply to Mr Murdock, the chairman, Mr Hoff, said that the procedure to be adopted was. the defining of a rating area, and asking of the County Council to take a loan poll-.

Cr. Fisher was asked if the.'raising of a township loan would mea.n that the township would be excluded from the rating area for other road loans. In reply Cr. Fisher said that the township would be rated for the Couiity roading scheme, but would not be. included in other rating areas, except by the consent of the ratepayers at a poll. Mr Hoff pointed but that, Messrs. Fisher, Jamieson, and the other settlers, of Kaikahu Road were discussing the raising of a loan to continue the metalling from the township to their lands. With only a little more metalling this road would be completed throughout, and should be utilised as the main highway instead of Waira.u Road, for which some body of settlers would eventually have to pay for the metalling. It was decided to define a rating area, and Cr. Fisher was instructed to go into the matter with the Lands Drainage Engineer, County Engineer, and County Clerk for the purpose of completing details, and securing an estimate of the cost. A further meeting will be held to receive the report 'and discuss the advisabilities of proceeding further. OTHER MATTERS. Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., wrote in reply to the association’s letter 'asking him to visit Kerepeehi, and advised that it was unfortunate that this could not be arranged before the opening of Parliament He suggested that the requests be communicated to him in writing. The secretary wajs instructed to write to Mr Samuel on the subjects of opening up the nearby Crown lands, the building of the Ngarua and Canal bridges, the metalling of School Road, as promised, and the provision of a post office. SPEEDING MOTORISTS. The riding representative was instructed to get the County Council to have notice boards erected in the township warning motorists to drive slower. STRAYING STOCK. The need for some active measures to reduce the straying stock menace impressed on the riding representative, who was advised to ascertain the advisability of utilising the pound site. SECRETARYSHIP. Mr W. Booth intimated that he desired to be relieved of the secretaryship of the association, as he intended to take no further executive part in local matters owing to the altitude of indifference and antagonism of certain sections. The resignation was accepted with regret, and the association’s appreciation of his services was ordered to be recorded in the. minutes. Mr H. Hoff was appointed secretary. He agreed to take the position until such time as the road loan poll was taken.