THE WAITOMO ROADS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 543, 19 February 1913, Page 5

THE WAITOMO ROADS.

DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL. The state of the roads in the Waitomo riding was the subject of a deputation to the County Council on Monday evening. Messrs Wratten and Robson were introduced by Cr Johnston. Mr Wratten said a meeting of ratepayers had been held on Saturday and he and Mr Robson had been appointed a deputation to wait on the council concerning the roads. The first matter they had to deal with was the metalling contract on the Caves road. Progress had been very slow and the settlers who had expected to see most of the work done this season were seriously concerned. They requested the council to use every effort to push on the work. Mr Robson asked if it would not be possible for the council to take portion of the work out of the contractor's hands and re-let it so as to expedite matters. Mr Wratten said in reference to the Managpohue road there wer« places which were impassable in winter. Formation work had been done by the department, but through lack of maintenance work fillings were giving way, and the road was becoming worse each year. He suggested that more frequent inspections should be made by the engineer with a view to keeping the road in repair, and saving considerable expenditure later on. He also asked that whatever money was available should be expended as soon as possible. A sum of £25 expended now would save a great deal later on. Mr Robson drew attention to the existence of a tomo on the Hauturu road which was endangering traffic. The chairman, in reply, said with respect to the metalling contract the council had done all in its power

to push on the work, which was certainly proceeding very slowly. The council had power to cancel any contract which was not being carried out in » reasonably expeditious manner, but they had to consider whether

it was to be settlers' interests to cancel the contract. It seemed to him that if the job was stopped and fresh arrangements had to be made that the settlers would be in a worse position than if the contract was carried on. The council was fully alive to the position and would thoroughly conserve the interests of the settlers. With respect to the repairs to the Mangapohue road the chairman said the road was still under construction by the Government. There was a grant for the road this year, and if the council could "do anything to expedite the expenditure it would do so. As to the work necessary" for maintenance there was not a great amount of revenue for expenditure in the shape of thirds and rates, but he thought if £25 would accomplish what was necessary they could rely upon it being done. The engineer would make a tour of the district shortly and would attend to the matters referred to.

Mr J. Lawson, contractor for the metalling of portion of the Waitomo road, waited on the council with reference to the crusher which had been installed to break the metal for the ocntract. He stated the output from the crusher was not more than sufficient to keep ten men going. He wished to know what the council proposed doing as it would not pay him to continue under the conditions.

Eventually the matter was left in hands of the chairman Cr Johnston and the engineer to deal with.