DAMAGE TO A ROAD.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 68, 7 February 1918, Page 3

DAMAGE TO A ROAD.

v Deputation to County r Council. A deputation of Waharoa settlers waited upon the Mata- • mata County council on Tuesday, bearing a petition signed by all but four people on the road protesting against the d..m igo i being done to the Waharoa-Mata-r ‘ mata metalled road by motor lorries carting milk. Messrs S. Mason, A. J. Tong, A. J. Weeks, Ad lam and J. Tyson were the deputation, and the former presented the petition. In doing so he said the weight of the lorries and load, with the trailers, was far too great, as was also the speed travelled. He suggested that a limit be fixed to each, and that a watch be set to see that the limits were not exceeded. Since the last two rains the road had badly broken up, and with a little more rain would become impassable. Mr A. Weeks endorsed Mr Mason’s remarks, stating that the road would become tar worse in winter. Cr. Banks said that since the rains he had seen that the lorries and loads were too heavy. He had been informed that there were now .light lorries on the market weighing 17 cwt, and which carried a load of 25 cwt. He would now advocate restricting the weight to two tons. Instructions had been given that the speed should be reduced.

Mr Mason said he felt sure that ten trips by a waggon as suggested by Cr. Banks would do less damage than those at present used.

Cr. Stopford said ho could see no reason at all as to why the milk could not be put on the morning train from Waharoa. On Sunday the light waggons could be used. Mr Adlam considered that the suppliers to the Glaxo factory should pay for the damage done. He believed that the road would have remained good for years if the lorries had kept off. Mr Mason thought the owners of “ Glaxo ” should pay. The chairman said he had recently been over the road and was convinced that it would not last long under existing, conditions. Something would have to be done, and the council would have to decide how the ratepayers in general could be safeguarded. Cr. Pohlen said the traffic, both in speed and weight, was “ extraordinary." He would like to see an arrangement come to, but failing response by either the New Zealand Dairy Association, or Messrs J. Nathan & Co., then the council would have to take up a firm stand and conserve the interests of the whole of the ratepayers of the Matamata riding who were paying for the loan. He pointed out that those supplying the “Glaxo” factory by motor lorries did not total more than ten per cent, of the ratepayers of the riding. He wanted to see the matter settled fairly to all parties. The chairman stated that without the petition or deputation the matter would have again been considered by the council that day. The council would act in the interest of the ratepayers, and endeavor to do justice to all parties. After thanking the council the deputation withdrew. When discussion was resumed the engineer produced the by--laws, which it was found fully dealt with the position. His port on the matter was as follows; In company with the chairman, Crs. Barnett and Banks, and the engineer of the Piako county, I inspected the metalled portion of the Walton-Waharoa road with a view to ascertaining the extent of the damage caused by the motor lorries hauling milk to the Glaxo factory. No doubt a considerable amount of damage has taken place since the last inspection, no doubt caused by the said lorries. I think that a bond or an agreement should be made with the owners, in accordance with the county by-laws, to repair the road to the satisfaction of the County council. The traffic can be stopped under the by-laws until such bond and agreement has been duly executed. The engineer further stated that the cost of repairs will not be less than £192 per mile, The amount would meet the present requirements, but would be an annual recurring business to be met in a lesser or greater degree. This raised the question, he said, as to whether past and present methods of road surfaces are sufficient to meet present day traffic ? “Undoubtedly they were not,” he concluded. The report of the engineer met with the members’ approval in all details, and the chairman was appointed to meet Mr H. E. Pacey at once, and go into the position with him in terms of the by-laws 7 .

j The latter read as follows: — : (11) The council may call upon j any person conducting or engaged in heavy traffic upon any road to enter into and execute a bond to the council for such sum as shall he fixed by the council not exceeding £SOO with or without a surety or sureties conditioned for duly repairing and making good to the satisfaction of the council any special damage resulting from such heavy traffic and upon being required to execute such a bond no person shall continue to conduct or be engaged in the said heavy traffic until due execution of such bond and delivery thereof to the council. (12) In lieu of taking security as aforesaid by bond the council may call upon any person concerned in any heavy traffic to make to the council an annual or other payment of any reasonable sum by way or compensation for any damage likely to occur to any road therefrom, and upon such call being made no parson receiving same shall continue to carry on or be concerned in the said heavy traffic until there has been paid to the council, in cash, the amount required.