King Country Chronicle Saturday, April 5th, 1913. OTEWA SPECIAL LOAN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 556, 5 April 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, April sth, 1913. OTEWA SPECIAL LOAN.

In carrying out the roading of a new district where a complete system of roads has not been established, certain difficulties present them selves which have not to be considered in older established localities where fixed conditions obtain. The settlers who are served by the Otewa road *>re desirous of carrying out a metalilng scheme for the purpose of providing proper access to the railway at Otorohanga, and have submitted proposals in connection with the scheme to the Waitomo County Council. As the dis trict is not vet fully settled the metalling can only be carried a certain distance at reasonable cost to the ratepayers. It is therefore proposed to constitute a special rating area of the properties served directly by the metalled portion of the road, and another separate rating area of those properties which will receive partial benefit from the metal. Property owners in the first mentioned area will, of course, contribute the major portion of the rate necessary to meet interest and sinking fund on the loan, while owners in the outlying area will contribute the remainder in the shape of a small rate. This appears to be the only method by which an equitable distribution of responsibility can be obtained, but the utmost care will require to b<R exorcised in fixing the outside area so as to avoid bringing in properties the natural access to which may be by a different road. For instance, it appears that certain sec tions in the extended area will assuredly find their most suitable access to the railway at, or near, Hangatiki, and these properties will at some future date be rated to provide a metalled road in that direction. Again, it may be found on close investigation that some of the back sections which are included in the area may find their natural outlet to be Te Kuiti, and these owners may be called upon to contribute to a road leading in quite a different direction to the one at present under consideration. Tliobo are merely the contingencies attached to a proposal which is altogether sound, and a method which will do much to solve the difficulties which have hitherto presented themselves to those desirous of progress. The position disclosed is a further 3trong argument in favour of the adoption by the Government of a comprehensive scheme of roading for the district. If the various proposed roads for the district in question were only marked on the plan it would bo a simple enough matter for the local authority to decide to what road, or section of road an owner should contribute. In the present state of muddle, with the district half roaded. and no provision made for the roading of the remainder, there is every chance that blunders will bo made., and that responibilities will be entered into on the part of settlers which will only serve to complicate the present unsatisfactory position. It is to bo hoped the resolutions passed at the conference of backblock local bodies with respect to roads will be presented to the Government in no uncertain manner, and that the hearty support of every ratepayer in the district will be behind them.