DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 594, 16 August 1913, Page 7

DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.

PIO PIO MANGAOTAKI ROAD

In connection with the erection of a bridge over the Mangaotaki river for the purpose of giving access to the Bettlers at Haku and the Mangaotaki district the following letter has been received by Mr C. K. Wilson, member for the district, from the Minister of Public Works: — "1 am in receipt of your letter of sth inst., covering a petition from Messrs H. J. Battley and R. Hill and other settlers of Haku and Mangaotaki Valley, requesting that a grant be provided for the erection of a bridge over the Mangaotaki river to the Pio Pio-Mangaotaki road, and have to state that this request will have my careful consideration in connection with the preparation of the Estimates. —W. Fraser Minister ot Public Works." TE KUITI-RANGITOTO ROAD. DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION. ROAD NOT LEGALISED.

The settlers in the Rangitoto district have been agitating for a start with the work of constructing the Rangitoto road from the point at which the present construction ends, to give access to the farthest out settlers. A grant'of £I2OO was made for the work by Parliament but hitherto nothing has been expended. lVr C. K. Wilson, member for the district, has been pushing the matter with the Government, and the following letter received bv Mr Wilson from the Minister for 'Public Works explains the cause of the delay :

"With reference to your letter of SOth ulr. in regard to the expenditure of the grant of £I2OO authorised for the above road. I have to inform you that the departments local engineer was authorised to proceed with this work some time back, but the difficullv standing in the way of the work being proceeded with is that part of the road has not yet been legalised. Under ordinary circumstances settlers do not raise objection to work being proceeded with pending legalisation, but in this case one of the settlers has actually given notice of trespass. If the department were to proceed with the work under such circumstances it would be liable for claims for trespass and compensation. Legalisation is being ptfshed forward as quicklv as possible, but you are no doubt aware that the law lays down a certain process in regard to the legalisation of roads, and when objection is raised by settlers whose land will be traversed, the provisions of the law must be complied with. —W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works."