PATETONGA ROADS LOAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5249, 9 March 1928, Page 3

PATETONGA ROADS LOAN.

CONDITIONS IMPOSED. AMOUNT RESTRICTED. The Hauraki Plains. County Council at its meeting yesterday received advice from the Local Government Loans Board that its application for sanction to,raise the Patetonga riding loan of £5300 had been considr erelßlnd a resolution had been adopted sanctioning a loan of £3327 for the purpose of reforming, and metalling the main road and the Patetonga Landing road' subject to the following ' conditions “That the term for which the loan Us borrowed shall not exceed 15. years; /'that the rate of interest sliatl not exceed £6 per centum ; that a sinking fund of £4 12s 6d per cent, per phnum v.n the. amount raised be established ; - that no interest or sinking fund be paid out of loan money.” ■ The board; declined to sanction the borrowing of £329, being the riding s share of the estimated cost of metalling Otane Road, as it was of opinion that this, work should be done out of revenue. ' The board., referred back the balance of £1644 in the application for further information. a In regard to Otarie Road, it was pointed out that this road had already beep, laid out with a substantial course of gravel and Should be maintained out of rates. In connection with the proposed ajvork op. Old Main Road and Upper /Mangawhero Road 1 , the board had been advised that after careful inspection of the streams evidence was not available that the 6720 cubic yards of shingle could be readily found. A certain amount was obtainable, but it did not even approximate that quantity. An out-crop of slate nock also occurred ini a fairly convenient locality—section 6, Block XVI., Piako Survey District—and ; f few trenches were put in it might be found that sufficient of this, cheaply

worked material was available. The council was therefore asked' to have investigations made. regarding this matter and to notify the board: when decision had been arrived at. It was understood that the main road and’ the Patetonga Landing road ,when formed and metalled, become main through roads, and' the board did not consider that a 'loan for the same term was justified as in the case of the Ngatea and Ngataipua roads*owing to the heavier traffic the first-mentioned' roads would have to carry. ' Cr. Mayn said he could not understand the difference raised between the Patetbnga main road and the Ngatea-Kaihere road He moved that the Local Government Loans Board be advised’ that the Ngatea-Patetonga. road ihad been recommended for declaration as a subsidiary highway, • and that in the opinion of the council / the term of years for the two loans \ should be the same. ,’QjL clerk read the foil lowing reply, whff he had drafted in collaboration with Cr. Mayn, for the approval of the council “Regarding proposed ytork on the Old Main Road and Mangawhero Road, sanction for which has been withheld pending further information, . I am directed to advise; that it was not intended to represent that 6720 cubic yards of shingle was available at present. Given sanction to proceed with the loan for this work, it is the intention of the council to have catchment areas constructed to hold the shingle during flood period's. The settlers had no intention of proceeding with this work until sufficient « materia! is available fiPm this source, Tand are prepared to include such ' stipulation in their proposal. Further, these roads would necessarily have to wait until the completion of the main - road metaflling. The Public Works Department has advised that subsidies on which the greater of the Patetonga work depends will be made available over a period of three c years, so that there will be plenty of time, for shingle to accumulate.-

“The main reading work is urgent,, but it would not be practicable to take a separate poll for this work and another; poll for the other works at a later date. Toi persons knowing the conditions it would appear certain that neither proposal would’ be ■, carried without the constitution of small, special rating areas, which is -a. course my council is unwilling to JadOpt.

' “Tne member for Patetonga has advised the council that his ratepayers are prepared to embody a cohdition on their voting paper; that the' work ■on Mangawhero Top roads is not to be commenced until the majin road, is finished and a quantity of shingle has accumulated.

“In view of the foregoing facts I am directed to respectfully request your .board’s further early consideration of the proposal,” • The letter was approved., The rferk was instructed to write to the Minister of Public Works Jh connection with the subsidiary roads

and state that sanction had; been

sought from the Local Government -Sloans Board on the assumption! that a £2 for £1 subsidy would be available, and ask for definite information on the subject.