ROAD TO HIKUAI

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 32, Issue 3291, 21 July 1943, Page 7

ROAD TO HIKUAI

MEETING OF THE SETTLERS COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S PROMISE A meeting was held recently by the committee of settlers on the East Coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, who were recently appointed to further the scheme of opening up the Kauaeranga-Hikuai outlet road. The first meeting was held in the Hikuai Hall, when the settlers met the chairman and members of the Thames County Council. Mr H. Hamilton, who presided, welcomed the visitors and explained why the people of the district considered that they were entitled to an outlet by the Kauaeranga route. A petition signed showed that 100 per cent, of the people favoured this route. Mr J. McCall, representative on the Thames County Council, explained that a petition had previously been signed for a stock route via Puriri. It was then decided, on the motion of Messrs J. McCall and D. Shaw, that the Puriri stock route petition be held in abeyance until the Kauaeranga outlet road was dealt with. Mr W. Hamilton also addressed the meeting and gave details of the assistance given by the Coromandel County Council to the roads in the Whenuakite district. County Chairman’s Promise Mr D. Courtney, chairman of the Thames County Council, thanked the settlers for their welcome and suggested that an endeavour should be ’made to get the farmable lands on the Kauaeranga route set aside for soldier settlement. He assured the settlers that if they decided to have the road he would support them, and also if the council was successful in obtaining the release of the forestry lands he would favour the Kauaeranga' road going through.

ANOTHER MEETING ADDRESS BY MR THORN A further meeting of settlers was held, when Mi- J. Thorn, M.P., attended and addressed the meeting. Reasons why the road was needed were given by Messrs B. Hamilton, Wilfred Hamilton, A. Cory-Wright. Les. Vieira and Mrs McCall. On behalf of the ladies of Tairua, Mesdames Ganderton and Bridge handed letters to Mr Thom, with details of accidents and sufferings of the people with no access to the Thames hospital. Mr Thorn dealt with reading problems and promised his help towards having the road put through. A resolution by Messrs Hamilton and Hazelden, that the settlers request Mr Thorn to use his influence to have the Kauaeranga road completed as a motor road, was carried. Thanks Accorded On the motion of Messrs Bridge and Vieira, it was decided to forward a letter of appreciation to Mr and Mrs Milleau for their many services to the community. It was announced at the meeting that £l7l 5s had been promised by the settlers towards the cost of the road.