THE ROAD REQUIREMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 460, 27 April 1912, Page 6

THE ROAD REQUIREMENTS.

WORK OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL The Waitomo County Council have got some very big vvorka in hand; works that will be of a lasting and permanent nature and an advantage to settlers, in the form of metalling contracts. Altogether, there are 32 miles of metalling work proceeding, the greater part of which is well advanced, 13$ miles recently let and which will be commenced at an early date, and seven miles for which tenders are at present being called, making in ail 52$ miles within the confines of the county. All this work is being done by the means of loans and subsidies. Settlers in other parts of the county are recognising the value of this system, and a large number intend going in for the system next year. Settlers propose to raise a loan for the metalling of the Pungarehu road from Mairoa to Ratanui. In Kio Kio settlers propuse doing likewise, and in the Aria district farmers propose extending their borrowing powers. The Hangatiki-Waitomo Caves loan has been granted, and the work will be proceeded with early next season. The total of this year's operations under this system, that is the works started in hand involve an expenditure of over £30,000. This large amount of work on the roads in the country will prove a great boon to settlers. They, however, have got themselves to thank for the proceedings because in the various districts they formpd special rating areas, and raised the money which the Government subsidised £1 for £l. The inducement was held out to them, and it is to their credit that they grasped position. Others now see the value of the idea, and are proposing to take similar steps. The gratifying feature of the work being done is that in nearly every instance it was brought by the inauguration of the dairying industry. The work that is being carried out on the Rotopotaka road in the Aria district will give better access to farmers supplying the Aria factory The metalling of the Te Kuiti-Awakino road favours the Pio Pio factory, whilst the work being done from Te Kaiti to Arapae through the fine and fertile Oparure Valley will greatly enhance the supply of the Te Kuiti factory. Besides the value of the metalling to the dairying industry the growers of the golden fleece will be similarly benefited. In fact, all will reap the reward. Stores and farm requisites will be procured cheaper, and that bug-bear "freight" to the outback farmer will be reduced to a fair thing. Settlers' wives and their families will no longer be hemmed in for six months in the year by bog ho'es and muddy roada. The weather at present is affecting the carrying out of work, and in fact the season right throughout has been unsatisfactory for this class of work. However, the work is proceeding as best can be done under the circumstances, and every day worked means something better and more permanent.