THE BEACH ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 389, 14 March 1908, Page 3

THE BEACH ROAD.

Deputation Waits on the: County Council. Every one who has visited Foxi ton’s popular seaside resort knows ’ something of the perils of that stretch of road from the borough boundary to the flat this side of the fishermen’s huts, a distance of ( about a mile and a half. This track, or unformed road; or spring- •• breaking, vehicle straining, bicycle pushing, perspiration and > swearing producer, likewise snare ) and delusion, struck one Captain » Preece, of Palmerston, very for-- > cibly, some time since. He laid • his grievance before the Palmers- | ton North Chamber of Commerce, 1 suggesting that, in conjunction i with representatives from the Palmerston North and Foxton Borough Councils, a deputation. - be formed to-wait on the Manawatu County Council, and place before that body the necessity for something being done. The deputation, consisting of Captain Preece (Palmerston Chamber of Commerce), Cr Stubbs (Palmers-

ton Borough Council), and Cis Hennessy and Frankland (Foxton Borough Council), duly waited upon the Council at its last meeting. The Manawatu County Council were notified that the deputation were coming, and in anticipation, its engineer inspected the locality, and submitted

the following report to the Council: —-“Should ihe opportunity arise for the Council to make a road to the beach, I think the route along the road reserve would be the proper place for the road, which would be oftt of reach of spring tides and drift wood. Although the route is fairly level, with the exception of one or two sautl hills, the work of construction of a road to the Manawatu beads at Foxton will be more costly than anticipated by most people. In the first place, we have the drift sand to deal with, which will not be an easy matter, and which will require a good deal of tascine work and blinding to keep it from encroaching and destroying the road when made. The rext matter and the most important is the metal* As there is. no metal adjacent to the road line, it will have to be delivered by tram or railway to the end of the road, which would cost about 5s per yard. My estimate to complete a metalled , road to the sanatorium is The question was discussed by the Council before the deputation arrived. The Chairman pointed out that this road would be of no value to the ratepayers of Mauawatu. They had no funds for the work, and it would be folly to spend the rates. The cost was estimated at and if the deputation insisted on the work being done he would suggest a Commission be set up to decide- The Council was not antagonistic to the proposal, but it was a question of funds, and unless the deputation could show that some direct benefit could be derived the Council could not undertake to entertain any expenditure. Captain Preece stated that it was of the utmost importance to have this two miles of road formed and metalled to the beach. He said some good work had been done by the Foxton Borough Council which had formed and metalled it to the borough boundary. The road would bo of immense advantage to the people of the district as well as residents of Feilding, Palmerston, and neighbouring towns who visited the seaside resort.

Mr Hennessy dwelt on the fact of increasing popularity of Foxtou beach as a health and pleasure resort. Two thousand people from outside districts had made the trip to.the sea beach, and the present state of affairs —an unfinished road —was a great inconvenience. Mr Frankland thought that more than 2000 people had visited Foxton during the summer months, Foxton was admitted to be one of the best health resorts in New Zealand, and visitors should not have to complain of the bad state of the roads. The Foxtou Borough Council had spent a lot of money in forming and metalling the road to its boundary line, and now wanted assistance from the Manawatu County Council. Cr Stubbs said to complete their share he was not prepared to commit himself as regards contributing towards the cost of the beach road, but the completion of the road would be a boon to the travelling public. Palmerston fully recognised the advantage of the Foxton beach as a health and pleasure resort. Perhaps it was meant that money was being taken away from them, but Palmerstonians did not mind that. They were all glad to get away once a year and many of them went to Foxton. In reply to a question the overseer estimated the cost of this work at ,£2,000. Mr Hennessy questioned the oveeseer’s estimate, and roughly estimated the work at ,£I,OOO, He also thought that a deviation in the road would mean a big reduction in the cost.-r-The overseer did not think so. The Chairman replied that unless the deputation could give financial assistance the Council could not entertain the beach road proposal. The deputation was not prepared to make any offer. Cr Masters introduced the cry of town v country, pointing out that the work would be done at the expense of the country for the convenience of &Cr Wheeler stated in-regard -to the. road to the sea the engineer had • stated that the cost would be very much more expensive than what the deputation thought—.£2ooo, in fact. This was outside

. #■«,> ’ their means, and the only way Was for the different bodies to have a commission and help one another. Otherwise it was out of all question. It was decided .that next time the engineer is at Foxton he be authorised to go over the road and see if a proposed deviation would not alter the cost. They would give the deputation every consideration, but so far could not see their way to do anything. The County Council’s view of the subject is this : The County is the responsible body, but the rates delived from the area mentioned are jpfinitisimal and as only one or two ratepayers are affected, it could not be expected that they would raise a loan for a work that would not be of any .value to them ; neither would it be just to spend the ratepayer’ mouey-6h a road that is not asked for by them, and which would not in any way benefit the county as a whole. While the County Council are not antagonistic, they would prefer that the cost of construction be borne proportionately by the Palmerston North, Feilding, and Foxton boroughs, Eand and Marine Department. The Council would bear a fair share, and would be responsible for the upkeep of the road. We would suggest that the County set up a commission and cite the local bodies mentioned and have the matter settled once and lor all.