WHANGAMATA ROAD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5264, 18 April 1928, Page 2

WHANGAMATA ROAD.

REQUEST FOR METAL. MINISTER TO CONSIDER POSITION With the completion of two largq deviations on thei WaiKi-Wh a ' J S a l na^a road by the Public Workis Department last winter the routei has been largely travelled by picnic parties .and sight-seers during this summer, as a fniiriy good motor road for the whole distance now obtains. In order that the clay formation shall not be damaged, and so that settlors will be able to use the new road during thei coming winter, a deputation comprising Messrs H. M- Corbett (chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council), O. Bjerring, and W. J. Leopold waited upon the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. K. S. Williams) at Paeroa recently with reference to the queston of metalling portions of the road. I t was explained by Mr Corbett that where new road formation work took place there, was always a. certain amount of rock and metal thrown to one side which m’ght be advantageously used in metalling parts of the road. The settlers were appreciative of what the department had already dene for them, and .were not asking that the whole length I'lioiild be metalled. However, if the worst portions were metalled it would prove; a boon to settlers during the wlinter, would attract added interest in the district, and would also provide work for the unemployed. As evidence' of the sincerity of tdie request one settler had offered to allow metal to be carted from a creek on his property free of every charge. About two milejs of road required metalling before,’ the winter if a satisfactory job was to be done, and he urged the department to authorise the work.

Tn answer to the Minister Mr O. GThornton, resident engineer, Public Works Department, said that he was not in favour of patchwork being done.. One cutting had alrejady been metalled by the department, and to his knowledge the; flat portions of the rdad were in fair condition.

That the settlers were filling to submit to a special rating area was stated by Mr O. Bjerring, who emphasised the fact that the settlers had already done a. great deal to improve the road atnd assist the department, and were willing to do stil more so long as they were given a. reasonably good road.

In reply the Hon. K. S. Williams said it was all a question of money, and consideration must first be givein to such people who had no means of egress or ingress to their holdings at all. Unfortunately, he could hot make a recommendation on tire matter, because die had not had an opportunity of familiarising himself with the locality. From what he had learned, the metalling of the area resollved itself into a fairly comprehensive scheme. He realised what it wag to have an unmetalleid road, and ihe would have a report submitted and would then see what could be done.