King Country Chronicle Saturday, April 12th, 1913. MIROAHUIAO-MATIERE ROAD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 558, 12 April 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, April 12th, 1913. MIROAHUIAO-MATIERE ROAD.

For some considerable time the claims of the road which connects Pio Pio with the Ohura have been urged upon the Governmert, and settlers are anxious to have the road properly opened up for traffic. For a distance of about twenty miles from Pio Pio the road is formed to a sufficient width fur vehicular traffic, but for several miles beyond that point the original six-foot track is still in existence. Owing to traffic and lack of maintenance the track is dangerous in places, and there ia no doubt steps should be taken to have the formation work completed. The road is the main | thoroughfare between Te Kuiti and Matiere, and traverses good country throughout. Beyond Aria to the boundary of the Ohura County the district is fairly well settled, but there is atill a considerable amount of Crown and native land in a virgin state. The Government has granted an amount on the road as £ for £ subßidy, but the County Council is not in a position to undertake any considerable expenditure on the road. The total in rates collectable on the road by the Waitomo County Council is £l3O, and the amount collectable by the Ohura County Council is £B6, making a total of £216 from a distance of over thirty miles. It is obvious that little can be done by the local authorities interested except in the way of utilising the thirds accruing on the Crown sections, and the money from this source is now being spent in maintenance. Experience has shown that the best method of utilising thirds ia by hypothecating them to meet interest and sinking fund on a metalling loan. Where settlement is continuous this is in every case a desirable method and the thirds are not spent uselessly in merely temporary work. In cases where large areas of native land are mingled with the settled areas the burden is thrown entirely on the settlers. It is claimed in respect to the MiroahuiaoMatiere road that if the Government would grant a substantial subsidy the settlers would be enabled to raise a loan and undertake a comprehensive metalling scheme. The granting of a subsidy amounting to two or three hundred pounds makes work of a comprehensive nature impossible. It is obviously not advisable to raise a loan to that amount when at least ten times that amount is necessary, and che total revenue in rates is not sufficient to more than meet the demand for maintenance. It is to be hoped the strongest possible representations will be made to induce the authorities to come to the settlers' assistance. The road is the main thoroughfare between two important centres, and will serve a very wide district. The progress of the district mentioned has reached a stage when improved roading facliitise are urgently necessary, »nd no effort should be spared to attain the desired end.