MARATOTO ROAD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5022, 3 September 1926, Page 3

MARATOTO ROAD.

ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY REFUSED.

VIEWS OF MINES DEPARTMENT.

In view of the. large amount of development work that is being carried out at the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines Go’s property at the head of the Maratoto Valley, .the lOhinemuri County Council has been faced with the necessity of constructing and metalling nearly two miles of a roadway leading to the mine in lieu of a harrow sledge track which provides the only access at present. To assist in financing the undertaking earnest representations have been made to the Mines Department for an additional grant of £250. At yesterday’s meeting of the council several letters were received from Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., in connection with the matter.

The Under-Secretary for Mines also wrote, as follows :—

“In reply to your application for. an additional, grant of £2OO for Widening and metalling the Maratoto Road so as to give, access, to the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, I have to advise, that, the application has since been carefully considered by the Minister of Mines-, and I am directed to point out that the sum of £2OO has already been paid by the department in March last for repairs to this- road. In addition, the sum of £250 has been voted this year for expenditure oh another portion of the i’o , h;d. “The assistance given by the department to keep the road in repair is considered to have been most liberal. Moreover, in view of the fact that your council is receiving the rent and gold -revenue frotai the mine served by this road it is considered that the council should find the balance of the money required to complete the work proposed. I have been directed by the Minister to advise you that he is unable to> see his way to provide any additional money to that already voted, and the application must be declined accordingly.” In reply to Cr-f Robinson the chairman said that the letter referred to an application! for an extra £250. Provision had already been made for the first £250 on this year’s estimates. It was decided to defer the matter until a later date. Mr j. P. Gamble has just opened up a very fine line of 200 ladies’ English sample models.* Owing to the inability of the Hauraki Plains. te,anr to travel, the football match which was to have-, been played at the local domain to-morrow ha§ been postponed. The short notice given the Paeroa Rugby Union has not enabled other matches to be arranged for to-mor!row.