TE KUITI-MOKAU ROAD.

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

TE KUITI-MOKAU ROAD.

♦ QUESTION OF CONTROL,

COUNCIL DECLINES RESPONSI-

BILITY,

A matter of immense importance to the district, came up for discussion , at Monday's meeting of the Waitomo County Council, when the letter from the Public Works Department with reference to the council taking over the Te Kuiti-Mokau road was read. Cr O'Dwyer said he felt strongly on the subject. For the council to take over the road in its present condition would be a distinct hardship on the ratepayers, and he was sure the strongest possible protest would be made throughout the county. He was firmly of the opinion the expenditure of all grants on the road should be left to the Government. A meeting had been held at Pio Pio to consider the matter, and the following resolution had been carried unanimously, "That this meeting of settlers protest against the suggestion that the local body take over the maintenance of the Te Kuiti-Mokau main road, and if this is the only condition on which the department will hand ove»* monies available for expenditure, tbte meeting requests the department to metal J the main arterial road under the contract system." Cr O'Dwyer said this resolution reflected the feeling of the settlers generally. He moved "That the council decline to accept the unauthorised grants for the Te Kuiti-Mokau road, and on account of dual control prefer to hand back all existing grants to the Public Works Department to expend." Cr Berry, in seconding the motion, endorsed the remarks of Cr O'Dwyer. Ho thought the ridings interested would be unable to bear the cost of maintenance which would probaDly amount to £IOOO a year. He thought the council should not take over the road before it was metalled. The motion, on being put, was carried unanimously.