THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1908. TE KUITI LOAN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 82, 15 May 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1908. TE KUITI LOAN.

THE borrowing proposal for Te Kuiti has advanced a step further, and the meeting" to be held tonight (Friday) should afford the residents an opportunity of thoroughly discussing the details of the project. The scheme of works recommended by the committee is published in another column of this issue, and those interested will therefore be able to acquaint themselves with the whole project. As already advertised the loan is, broadly, for the purpose of opening up and forming the streets of the town. This includes the metalling of Rora-street, and the draining and forming of almost every other street in the township area. The Committee appointed to outline the scheme initiated their work on the principle of giving access to every section, and making it possible for all section holders to make use of their properly at the first possible opportunity. With the adoption of that idea, it will be recognised that after the satisfactory accomplishment of that work there will be little left for metalling purposes. However, just as important as the giving of access to the outlying sections is the work of making it possible to carry on the business of the town, and with this end in view, provision was made for the metalling of the main street and the formation of footpaths. Other necessities have not been lost sight of, and the scheme very rightly includes the construction of a footpath to the school, and the placing of culverts and small bridges, where necessary, for access to certain places. As an

inaugural scheme of town improvements little can be urged against the proposals, and in working on the broadest and most comprehensive lines the Committee cannot be accused of parochialism. There may be a doubt as to whether the amount proposed to be borrowed will.be sufficient to carry out the whole of the proposed work, but providing the amount is raised, there is little doubt that with economical manipulation the work will be carried through.

PREMIER AND KING COUNTRY.

THE endeavours towards getting the Premier to pay a visit to the King Country before next parliamentary session have, so far, resulted in nothing more than the extraction of an indefinite promise. However, politicians are proverbially non-committal in their statements, and naturally the Premier of the Dominion is an exceptionally busy man. A telegram from Sir Joseph Ward was received on Friday last, and stated that the Premier was making arrangements to go through the Northern Taranaki district very shortly, and hoped to visit Te Kuiti before the end of the month. The message further stated that definite information would be sent later. It would appear as if Sir Joseph Ward was either blissfully ignorant of the state of King Country roads, or that, he intended to use them as an excuse for not coming through from Taranaki. The main Taranaki - King Country road is in a very bad state alreach r , and with a week or two more of showery weather there will be little hope of inducing the Premier to undertake a journey over it. However, could such a happening be brought about, we venture to predict the experience would be a striking and powerful argument in favour of a metailing

policy by the Roads Department. Many methods have been tried to induce the Government to undertake a more liberal policy \vi(h regard to our roads, but undoubtedly the most efficacious means would lie a little persona! experience on the part of the Premier of the winter conditions.