FOXTON-SHANNON ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1041, 9 May 1912, Page 3

FOXTON-SHANNON ROAD.

THE HEAVY TRAFFIC. At Monday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council the question of heavy traffic and its effect on County roads was discussed. | The Engineer reported, in regard to the state of of the FoxtonShan non road. Restated that the contractor for supplying and delivering metal on the road had made a start with his contract, but had only delivered about a hundred yards of metal when the Horowhenua County Council gave him notice that the roads were closed for heavy traffic, and that they could not allow any heavy carting on their road until after the end of August. The contract, had therefore, been stopped for the present time. The road was in a very bad state, and arrangements had been made to have the worst places patched up with metal delivered by the tram to Foxtou. In any case, under the present conditions and state of the road, it would be advisable to close the road against heavy traffic for the winter season.

Mr H. Greig waited on the Council with reference to the matter.

Mr Wilsou stated that the question ot heavy traffic was a very serious one, so much so, that it would cost to put the road right again, and the Council had served those interested with notices stating that they were liable. Mr Greig stated that they were very heavy ratepayers and had only one waggon ou the road, taking one load per day. The load he did not think excessive, as it was never more than five tons, exclusive of the waggon. He paid in road rates at the rate of is for every mile the waggon travelled. It the heavy traffic were stopped, it would mean a very serious tniug, as there was ,£50,000 invested iu the flax mills aud 150 men were employed there. Personally, he did uot think the road was fit to carry the increase iu traffic that had taken place oi late years. The Chairman stated that the Horowhenua County Council had stopped the Manawatu County Council from carting metal over a portion of the road in the former county, to repair the piece of road in question.

Mr Greig stated that the road rates he alluded to were principally paid to the Horowhenua Council, but he and other land owners there would be willing to give their assistance towards having their properties brought within the Mauawatu County. The question to be considered, too, was whether by stopping the traffic the development of the district was not being retarded. Cr Wilson stated that it appeared to him that the flaxmillers there should be called upon to put the road in order.

Cr Gray stated that the Horowheuua County received between and ,£SOO in rates while the land on which these were paid did not get a shilling’s worth of them. It was uutair that such heavy rates should be paid to the Horowhenua County and that the millers should then be called upon to put the road in order. Mr Greig then retired.

After discussion Mr Greig was recalled and the chairman stated that the Council would supply 250 yards of metal and deliver it at the Foxton end of the road providing those interested would cart it Irom there and pay for the spreading and breaking of the metal. It was resolved to circularise the millers interested and ask them to meet the Councillor for the riding with a view to discussing the matter as if an arrangement were not arrived at it would be necassary to stop the heavy traffic.