MONEY FOR METALLING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 627, 13 December 1913, Page 5

MONEY FOR METALLING.

» ALLOCATING THE LOANS. 1 MEETING THE SETTLERS. The recognition of the only possible manner in which a new district can establish permanent roads, and provide for the progress of settlement has at length come to the settlers of this dis trict. The fact is strongly evidenced by the manner in which loans for metalling purposes are being promoted in various localities, and this season's programme in respect to metalling within the Waitjmo County should be a heavy one in the Otorofaanga distrct. Loans have been promoted within the Kio Kio and the Otewa special rating areas for £SOOO and £1750 respectively. Subsidies have been granted in each case by the Government but in the case of Kio Kio the amount of £3OOO only has been plased on the Estimates, while the full £ for £ has been provided for the Otewa loan. In addition the Advances Department has agreedjjjjto recognise the works as coming with the special provisions attaching to works in outlying districts whereby a concession of 1 per cent, for the first 10 years and a half per cent, for the next next 10 years is granted by the Government. It will thus be seen that extremely favourable terms have been made. In such a large county, however, it is impossible for the council officials to have an intimate knowledge of all the details necessary, and with the object of facilitating matters as much as possible. Mr A. Schoies, county chairman, and Mr P. Mora, clerk, proceeded to Otorohanga on Thursday in order to meet the settlers and discuss any objections or suggestions which might be made by any of those inter!ested. A feature in connection with the Otewa loan is that the scheme promoted at present provides for metallii.g the roads from the railway for a certain distance through the backcountry, but the farthest out settlers will at some future date find it necessary to carry the metal further in order to give them proper facilities. In order to meet the position it was decided, on the recommendation of th 9 county clerk to establish two special rating areas, those within the area nearest to the railway paying the full rate, while those further out, who will have to raise a further loan later on, only contribute a small rate The fixing of the various boundaries was naturally a matter likely to give rise to a little controversy. Several objections were made and points raised by the settlers on Thursday, and these were investigated and satisfactorily arranged between the council representatives and the settlers.

In respect to the Kio Kio loan the chief difficulty which has to be confronted is the shortage of subsidy. The roading scheme provided for an amount of £IO.OOO, half of which is being raised by loan, while the other half was applied for by way of subsidy. The amount of £3OOO in subsidy has been provided for on the Estimates, and there is consequently a shortage of £2OOO to carry out the scheme. In discussing the matter the advisability of going ahead with the scheme was strongly em phasised. An application can be made for a further subsidy °of £2OOO rnsxt year, and if the application is not granted, the amount can be raised by way of a loan. It was pointed out that evt/n if the further loan had to be raised by the settlers, they would still be receiving substantial assistance in the shape of the concession made by the Government under the special provisions for work in outlying districts. Mr Wallis, on behalf of the settlers interested, said he was in favour of going on with the scheme without any cutting down or alteration of the boundaries of the special area and he felt sure this course would be adopted. It would not be possible to expend the whole of the money this season in any casn, and if they could get the balance of the money next year either by way of subsidy or loan the original scheme could be caried out without any interruption to the work. A meeting of the settlers would be held and he thought this idea Would be affirmed.