PATETONGA ROADS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5203, 14 November 1927, Page 3

PATETONGA ROADS.

DECISION OF GOVERNMENT.

QUESTION OF DEVIATION.

The following letter from the Minister of Public Works (the Hop. K. SWilliams) has been forwarded to the Hauraki Plains County Council by Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P.: — “With further reference to your of April 29 and 12th ultimo, with which you forwarded letters received by you from Mr A. Whiteman, hon. secretary of the; Patetonga Ratepayers’ Association, and also letters dated 11th June and 9th ultimo, sent direct to me by Mr Whiteman and the county clerk, Hauraki Plains County Council, respectively, all of which de,ait with the proposed scheme for metalling roads in the Patatonga riding, I have to advise that the position concerning this scheme was thoroughly investigated recently, in response to a. request from my colleague, the Hon. Minister of Lands.

“After considering the derailed report furnished by my department, I advised the; Hon. McLeod on August 10 that the portion of the main road — for which the special committee which was set up to inquire into these roads recommended a £4 for £1 subsidy—from Whiteman's corner northwards to Ngarua. Road was entirely new, and my department’s district engineer, who investigated the matter, was of the opinion that the location decided upon was not the best obtainable, owing to tihe unnecessary length of new formation located in deep peat country where construction costs would be excessive. A better road would be that shown in green on the attached lithograph', the peat being shallower and the length of new road shorter ; but, nevertheless, the formation of a road on this line would be extremeily costly, although the total length is only 15.0 chains.” The enclosed lithograph showed the route recommended by the special committee! as between sections 4,7, 52, and 17 on one side and <lB, 23, 21, and 18 on the other. The route marked in green was between, sections 19, 22, and 20 on one side; and 20, 21, and 19 on the other.

Continuing, the. letter states : “it appears, however, that this green road is not necessary at present, jas the requirements of the district for many years would be melt by adopting the blue road (committee’s recommendation) from the southern county boundary to Whiteman’s corner, and then taking the hill road, by Kaihere. This hill road is carrying plenty of settlement and for that reason should in any case be metalled and the formation of the green deviation postponed until some time in the future, whe.n there will be a possibility of it being declared a main highway to connect up with the Pokeno-Waihi road at Ngaeta or Waitakaruru. “The estimated cost of metalling the through main road, using the hill road, as stated above, is £15,340, and after carefully considering the matter I was of the opinion that the subsidy basis recommended by the special committee (£4 for £1) was warranted, and I advised the Minister of Lands accordingly. The Government contribution for the metalling of the main road will therefore amount to £12,272. “The only other metalling which I considered should he dealt with under the present scheme was the portion of the Patetonga to Pateitonga. Landing Road between the through main road and the Maukoro canal, a distance of 100 chains. The subsidy basis recommended, and to which I agreed, was £3 for £l, the. Government quota of the. estimated cost being £1346. This made a total Gov ernment contribution of £13,618, and it was decided that this should be spread oveir three years, £6OOO to be found in each of the first two seasons and the remainder in the! third season, and an item of £6OOO, £4 for £l, to cover the first season’s quota was included on the current year’s estimates.

“Regarding the material to be used, a suggestion was made that shingle be used in lieu of metal, but my engineers consider it advisable to put the whole of the main road down in broken metal, leaving what shingle is available for the construction of secondary roads and maintenance.

“In connection with the other roads mentioned, the special committee recommended a Government subsidy’ at the rate, of £2 for £1 for the southern portion of the main road and the Upper Mangawfiero Road, but I consider that this should be held over until such time as the programme butlined above has been completed. They will, hovyever, receive every consideration in due course.” The council decided to take the necessary steps to secure the sanction of the Local Bodies Loans Board to the raising of a loan for the settlers’ share.