PIO PIO ROAD MEETING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 527, 18 December 1912, Page 5

PIO PIO ROAD MEETING.

RESOLUTIONS PASSED

A meeting of settlers was held at Pio Pio on Saturday afternoon to consider the Te Kuiti-Awakino main road question. There waa a fair attendance amongst whom were a number of settlers' wives Mr G. Elliott was voted to the chair and Mr J. Smith appointed secretary. The chairman after rending the notice convening the meeting, explained the position in detail from the last meeting, twelve months ago up to (he present. Mr A. Scholes, county chairman, said he wa3 glad to be present to have an opportunity of putting the council's side of the question. The council was only responsible for the spreading of the metal, whilst the Public Works Department had sole control of the crushing. The council could in no way interfere with the contract which had been let for crushing the metal. Mr Livingtone submitted certain figures to the meeting showing the amount of money available for expenditure now in the hands of the council. Mr Scholps stated these figures Were calculated to be misleading, as nothing had been taken into account for the unfinished contracts for crushing and carting. The chairman expressed surprise that such contracts existed in the face of the fact that there had been a fortnight's summer weather, yet neither the crusher not the teams had started work. He was strongly of the opinion that both contracts should be immediately cancelled. Mr Scholes explained that the council did not consider it fair to bring a contractor with teams to commence work until the crusher was ready to start and keep the teams going.

It was pointed out, however, against this that there was a quantity of metal lying in a heap, presumably about 800 yards, from last year which would employ teams some considerable time.

The question of maintenance was then discussed. The chairman having read a copy of the letter written by the Assistant Under-Secretary to the County Council, which appeared in a recent issue of the Chronicle. After considerable discussion, in which Mr Power pointed out that the burden of maintenance would fall on the riding of Paemako, it was unanimously resolved as follows: "That this meeting of settlers protests against the suggestion that the local body should take over the maintenance of the Te Kuiti-Awakino main road, and if this is the only condition under which the Public Works Department will hand over the grants for expenditure, this meeting requests the department to metal the main arterial road under the contract system." It was resolved to send a copy of this resolution to the County Council, the main to be forwarded immediately to the Under-Secretary. It was further unanimously resolved to communicate with the Public Works Department, requesting that the uncompleted contract let to Mr P. Houhy being considerably over due, be immediately cancelled. The meeting also protested against the Miroahuiao-Hill deviation being carried out as being a useless expenditure.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the county chairman for being present, and to the chairman for presiding.