TE KUITI-AWAKINO ROAD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 391, 30 August 1911, Page 5

TE KUITI-AWAKINO ROAD.

! WAITEWHENUA RAILWAY. i I On Saturday last,at Pio Pio, a large ! and enthusiastic gathering of settlers I from all parts of the district met in the Maori Hall to discuss the best means to hasten the metalling of the Te Kuiti-Awakino road as far as Pio Pio during the coming summer; the necessity for medical assistance for j that growing district; and to urge I the claims of the Stratford-Main Trunk j line being continued from Mangaroa { through Waitewhena, Aria and j Pio Pio. On all the subjects dealt [ with there was unanimity amongst the large number present. Everyone was in that spirit of demand brought about by real grievances in connection with the wants of the large district concerned. The meeting, which was convened by Messrs R. Livingstone, G. Elliott, and A. J. Rawstron, was certainly a pronounced success, and those gentlemen deserve every credit for the successful results. As a rule, in country districts matters of the kind are dealt with in a lethargic manner, inasmuch as only a few turn up. On this occasion there were settlers from Aria. Mahoneui, Managotaki, Paemako and Mairoa, and interested visitors from Te Kuiti. The attendance was over eighty. Mr J. Boddie presided, and in open-, ing the meeting referred to the importance of the matters they were a about to discuss, which all knew were of pressing importance to a large district, and a large body of settlers. Every settler" and landowner in the district was affected, and the urgency of the demands were outside party politics. The metalling of the Te Kuiti-Awakino road was a large national work, and deserved the united efforts and support of every settler served by it.

Mr G. Elliott, who had been conducting the secretarial work in connection with the meeting, read apologies from a number of settlers throughout the district, who were unavoidably unable to be present. Mr T. E. Foy, Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Te Kuiti, also forwarded an apology in which he stated that he was of the opinion that the present mode of metalling the road wa3 far too costly and slow. Mr Elliott said that he had an estimate computed by a competent man as regards the completion of the road to Pio Pio, which he would place before the meeting, and it would be. sufficient to show that if the work was carried out by private contract it could be done more expeditiously and more cheaply. All those present were aware of how the Department had made them promises on occasions before, and the move at present of calling for 3000 yards of metal was nothing but an election move. It was for settlers that day to say that the work must be done. He had no doubt but, that if settlers did not insist on something being done during the coming summer that nothing would be done. Election time was drawing near, and as usual the Government would let contracts and cancel them. It had taken the Public Works Department ten years to do the work so far, and if they continued to do in the future as they d'd in the past, settlors would have to wait a long time. The figures which he was going to enumerate were not for the earth work, but for the metalling alone, which the man consulted said could be done for an average of 7s 4d per yard. The total estimate was for a narrow guage £2712 Is 6d, and for a wider guage £2897 17s 6d. From the 9 to the 10 mile peg the work would cost 9s 6d per yard, from the 10 to 11 mile, 7s from the 11 to 12 5s 9d, from 12 to the 13 mile 7s and from the 13 to the 14 mile 8s 3d. From the 14 mile to Pio Pio rubble rock could be used at a cost of 6s 6d per yard. The speaker moved that this meeting urges upon the Department the necessity of metalling the main Te Kuiti-Awakino road to Pio Pio during the coming summer by contract, the meeting being of the opinion that it could be carried out for £3OOO.

Mr R. Livingstone seconded the motion.

Mr Andrew thought that the work could not be done for the money.

Mr O'Dwyer was of the opinion that it was hardly wise to accept the estimate of a man whose name was not given. They all knew that the road had to be prepared before it was metalled. In making the request it should not be stipulated that the work be done by contract.

Mr Elliott: You will never get it done.

Mr Livingstone said that the estimate had been compiled by a competent man and knowing, as he knew, the computer, he was sure that if a body of settlers took the work in hand that it could be done at the price stated.

Mr O'Dwyer considered what they wanted was to get the work done. He did not favour a policy of dictation. Mr Julian was of the opinion that if the estimate was even £3OOO that it could not be done at the price He thought that if they wanted £3OOO they should ask for £6OOO. That had been his experience with the Department.

Mr Power, of Paemako, thought that the fact of the Department having called tenders for the metal had taken the wind out of their sails. Mr R. Body protested that the metalling work should not be limited to six mile 3, bringing it to Pio Pio only. There were other settlers living beyond Pio Pio who wanted their road metalled as well. The Chairman thought that the position taken up by the Department was a tentative move. It had been done on the recommendation of the Resident Engineer. He was, however, afraid that ths tender would be so high that the Department would not accept them, and that the work would in the end be delayed right into the summer. With regard to the figures before the meeting, Mr Elliot had told them that they were reliable. Judg- ' ing by his experience of County CounI cils he considered that the work would

I cost £BOO per mile, and he was therei fore of opinion that £3OOO was inadej quate. He would like the meeting to ! give a definite opinion as to whether J they considered that the work should i be done by contract or otherwise. Mr Elliott explained that it was ! not a matter of questioning the Enj gineer. It was the Department that j he doubted. I The Chairman asked that assuming ' the figures presented were the actual I cost of the 'work, if there happened too. be a liability would the body of settlers referred to accept it. On the other hand the convenors knew who they were talking about and the meeting did not, and he therefore thought it would be a risk to ask to have the work done for £3OOO.

Mr O'Dwyer did not like the dictatorial part of the resolution, but thought that the Government should be shown that settlers were sincere in the pushing on of the work.

Mr Elliott: Ours is a Government by agitation, and this is a national work. They had the assurance of a competent man—(Cries of "Name him, name him.")

Mr H. Rothery rising) said "I'm the man" (Appaluse), and I am willing to put down a £SOO deposit that I can do the work at the price. Applause.) The Chairman said that Mr Rothery'3 straight-out offer put a different complexion on the matter. Mr Rothery : Understand that my figures are for the metalling alone, and that they do not make provision for earth work.

Mr R. K. Wilson liked the idea of getting as much'of the road done as possible, but he wanted to know what about the people beyond Pio Pio. This road was a main arterial one, and was undoubtedly a national work which was at present a national disgrace. He thought that they should not bicker about the making of three or five miles, they should demand the lot. The modesty of the "cockatoo" was wonderful. He considered that their member had given them very little assistance in deaiing with that road, which was a scandal to the Dominion. It wasn't a road; it was mud up to your neck. After further discussion, it was decided that as Mr Rothery had given them his assurance that the work could be done, that the motion be put in its original form, and that a deputation be appointed to convey the message to "the Minister of Public Works.

The motion was carried unanimously, and the following deputation was appointed: Messrs J. Wall, R. K. Wilson and G. Elliott.

The question of establishing or inaugurating something in the matter of medical aid for the district was next discussed, and the following motion was unanimously carried: "That the time has arrived when some better provision should be made to provide medical assistance and comfort for those suffering distress caused by sickness and accident in the interior and remote parts of the district."—Seconded by Mr Williams. It was decided that the matter be brought before the notice of the Hon. G. Fowids when the deputation was in Weliintgon.

It was also resolved to endeavour to procure a subsidy for a resident doctor, and the following committee were set up to canvass the various districts in order' to ascertain what support would be given by settlers: Messrs E, Moore, J. Wall, H. Voyce, A. Williams, P. O'Dwyer, G. Elliott, and R. Body.

In connection with Railway matters the meeting resolved that the Government be asked to set up a Royal Commission to investigate the advisability of bringing the Stratford-Main Trunk line from Mangaroa through Waitewhena, Aria, and Pio Pio, on the grounds that the Hon. the Minister of Public Works had publicly stated on several occasions that he considered that that route was the best one.

The question of freights was discussed and a number of speakers stated emphatically that the prices being charged by carters were far too high. A number of others who had had experience of carting were of the opposite opinion, and thought the work could not be done any cheaper than what it was done at during the past summer. Mr R. Livingstone was appointed to collect statistics as regards the probable amount of goods that would be required to be brought into the district for the year and the products outgoing, in order that a committee might be set up with a view to calling tenders for the work before the summer carting commences.