Departmental Letters.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 282, 26 October 1906, Page 2

Departmental Letters.

THE TELEPHONE. In reply to a complaint by Mr H. J. Greenslado, re delay in commencing the proposed telephone line from K<i wbia to Te Rxu a moa and other pkces, Sir Joseph Ward stated that as sot n as the roads are fit for heavy traffic, the work of erecting the li ie will be begun. As recently as sth inat. a report was obtained, which showed, the Premier added, that many parts of the road are still unfit to travel on with a fair load. The first opportunity for beginning the work will be taken al vantage of.

WHAKAHAU ROAD AND MARO- - ROAD.

Mr Greenslado forwards us the following letter, which he lately received from the Hon. Hall-Jones :—“ In further reference to your letter of the 2nd inst., covering a letter addressed to you by Mr P. C. Rose, of Kiritehere, and in reference to my reply of the 3rd inst., I have the honor to state that I have made enquiries into the position of the above roads, to which special mention is made by Mr Rose. In regard thereto, I have to state that practically all the work dene on the Whakahau road to date represents expenditure out of the Kinohaku West Loan Block, part of which loan was allocated for the construction and clearing of the road in question. The loading has. however, proved insufficient for the clearing and construction of the whole road, and those who may be most interested do not perhaps fully appreciate how desirable it is, under some circumstances, to expend a certain proportion of the loading on clearing the track for the purpose of providing access, even though there may be insufficient funds for construe tion. The sum af £lOO has been issued out of the Public Works Funds in anticipation of the vote that may be taken for this road on tho current years estimates, and it is hoped that it will be found possible to make seme further provision on the Estimates for the current year. In regard to the load through the Harihari run, I have to point out that this is part of the road showft on last year’s appropriations as the Awakino to Kawhia Coast Track. The appropriation for this ’ rood, which is of considerable length, was £2OO, and the whole of this had been authorised for expenditure prior ko the receipt of the telegram which you addressed to me on 2nd June last. Shortly after the receipt of that telegram the sum of £5O was authorised in anticipation of the grant for the current year, and inquiry made from the District Road Engineer shows that this sum has already been expended on the work for which it was authorised. The matter of making further provision for the improvement of this road will receive consideration in the compilation of the estimates now under review.”

ROAD WIDENING. The following letter has been re ceived horn the Hon. Hall-Jonas by Mir A. W. Babbage “ I have the i henour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 26th ult„ which has been referred to me by tho Hon. G. Fowlds, in reference to the matter of granting assistance towards the widening of roads in the Kawhia district. In reply, 1 have to state that the widening of roads in this district is reaegnised as being very desirable. It is a matter of regret that the loading has proved in sufficient to f irm the roads to full dray wilth in the first place. The quesuoo of providing grants to assist in the widening of many of the roads in the district is receiving careful considers tion in the compilation of theostimalefoc the current year.”