LOADING THE DISTRICT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 654, 25 March 1914, Page 3

LOADING THE DISTRICT.

e PIO PIO-MAIEOA METALLING SCHEME. < MEETING OF SETTLERS. A meeting of settlers interested in the Pic Pio Ma ; roa metaiiing scheme was bp.ld at Pio Pio on Saturday last. Mr G. Bevege presided, and ttaeife was a fair attendance of ratepayers. Original y a scheme was promoted for the borrowing of £2OOO with the idea of obtaining a subsidy of £ for £ and metalling the Mairoa road from Pio Pio to the end of the metal included in the original Mairoa loan. This a proposal was held up for a time in consequence of the limit for any one loan being set by the Government at £IOOO. This limh was subsequently extended to £2OOO. and the application for the £2OOO was provisionally granted. Meanwhile, however, the settlers had undertaken a modified scheaie providing for only £IOOO loan and a similar amount of subsidy, and the amount of £IOOO only was granted as a subsidy on the Estimates. In consequence of the complications- the pruject has been bald up for soma tin:o, ar.d the meeting on Saturday was for the purpose of overcoming the difficulties.and arriving at a proper understanding with'a view to proceeding with the work. After the secretary, Mr Johnson, had read correspondence which bad passed on the matter, Mr H. A. Ellison said that as one of those specially interested he advocated the large scheme in order to link up the metal with that already accomplished by the Mairoa loan. He Urged "that everything which had pre* viouslp passed should be furgofcten.and their efforts directed to carrying out the scheme which would confer f mo?t benefit upon all concerned. 'Nothing was to be gained by referring to matters which had already passed, and he moved that«*he larger scheme be affirmed and the necessary steps taken fo carry it out prdmptly. The motion was seconded by Mr O'Dwyer, who strongly advocated the completing of the metalling, in the interests of the whole district. Mr A. Scbnles. chairman of the County Council, said the Council would be glad to see the matter concluded on the lines suggested. The attitude the Council had adopted wns ! the joining up of special rating areas vhruuehoqt the county and the m stalling of thfc ronds continuously, otherwise there would be immense trouble in the future. Mr Scholes also explained the details of the schemes and pointed out that the rate in the more comoreh6nsiye proposal was the same i as in the smaller scheme, as a larger : area had been included. i

Mr Livingstone said he waa inclined to favour tba larger schenie. but wanted some more information concesning the effec' of it. He thought the artUfra generg'ly were quits in favour of the msta! being joined §up. There position was that they sum of carrying th# modified scheme, while there was likely to be opposition to the other, and there was a good deal of nßtive country included. He did not want to see the smaller scheme blacked without being sure of the other proposal going head Mr Scholfis said there was no danger of the work being delayed if the settlers wars , agreed. Operations could be started under the proposal which had already received approval. Messrs Andrews, Neilson, and others also signified their approval of the scheme providing it could be carried out on equitable lines. Eventually H was agreed that those who had been withholding their consent from the modified proposal should sign the consent form providing the larger scheme were affirmed and steps taken to promote it.