THE RIVER BANK ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, 26 August 1881, Page 2

THE RIVER BANK ROAD.

» The following letter was read last night at a meeting of bhe Foxton Highways Board : — Foxton, August 17, 1881. To the Chairman Foxtou Highways Board. Sir, — I wish to draw your attention to the following, on which considerable discussion has taken place lately, viz., in regard to the right-of-way along the river bank, which in ray opinion is a mere evasion of the question of road-making, and draining the Moutoa swamp. There is a road laid off by the side of the main drain which runs through all the river bank sections as far as Mr Macpherson'p, and was, no doubt, intended to be continued all the way to Moutoa. This road has been mach neglected by the Highways Board,jjand at present is impracticable for horses further than Mr Gower's section, No. 429. If the main drain were deepened, there would be plenty of clay available for making this a good road, and no one would have occasion to make use of the river bank as a road; moreover, this will be the only way of completing the drainage of the swamp, there being eleven feet fall from Moutoa to the mouth of the main drain. Three or four large drains have been opened to the river above without floodgates, which keep the swamp continually flooded, and the only way the water can escape is by the main drain by theside of the road referred to ; i.&, until pjjp^river gets very low above. In Mr Larkworthy's block half the purchase money (£4000), was to be expended in drainage. All the lower sections have paid two shillings and tenpeuce per acre for the cost ami maintenance of the main drain, besides £i an acre purchase money, and the usual rates. Mr Larkworthy paid £1 an acre, half of which was returned for drainage : and now Mr Gower repudiates all liability on behalf of Mr Larkworthy for main drain, although making use of it, and indeed it is impossible for him to avoid doing so. Trusting some remedy may be found for the existing state of things, I remain, &c., F. Eobinson. The Board passed the following resolution with reference to the above : — Proposed by Mr Thynne, seconded by Mr Carter, and carritd :— " That the Chair.

man be respetfully requested to write to ♦ the Hon the Minister of Lands,, aad-jmfe^ quire (1.) The area of land. puroNH^pp Mr Larkworthy at Moutoa from the Government. (2.) What amount of the purchased money has been expended for draining the said land, and if such a sum has been expended to the satisfaction of the Government Engineer. (3.) If all the conHiti^ns en'er*fl hv the Government with Mr Lirkworf&y hat* been carried out. (4.) What amount of the purchase money still remaiua unexpended, and if any such unexpended money would the Government lay it out in deepening the original main drain. That a copy« of the letter from Mr P. Robinson be forwarded to the Hon. tne Minister of Lands."