FOXTON-SHANNON ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1070, 16 July 1912, Page 3

FOXTON-SHANNON ROAD.

CONFERENCE RE UPKEEP TO BE HELD.

At Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council a letter was received from the Clerk to the Manawalu Couuty Council, stating that portion of the FoxtonMoutoa road, in the Manawatu County, was very much damaged by the traffic from several flaxmills drawing flax trom the Horowhenua County, and timber from Shannon. “Our roads,” continued the writer, “are used exclusively as there is no access from any road in the Horowhenua County. To show this, the fiaxmiliers agreed to cart 250 yards of metal for the road, but the traffic is such that the road is almost as bad as ever, although it was only a few weeks ago since the metal was put on. We are given to understand that new mills of an extensive character will use these roads next year, as well as those who at present do. The fiaxmiliers have interviewed us and requested us to see if some arrangement cannot be come to so that a sufficient proportion of the rates, coming trom such lauds in use by these mills, could iie paid to us lor the purpose of keeping the road in repair. The Public Works Act (clause 109) contemplates this being done m cases such as this, and we would be glad to know (xj ii your Council is prepared to agree to this course, and (2) if so, what sum you are prepared to allocate lor the purpose. Fiaxmiliers interested state tha. rates to the amount of about are paid to your Council by them. The councillor for the Awahou riding informs the Council that the whole ox the rates in his riding do not seem sufficient to keep this road in repair and something must be done or the road will be absolutely impassable.” It was decided on the motion of Cr. Richards, seconded by Cr. Kebbell, to inform the Manawatu County Council that in the opinion ol this council the narrow tyres of the ratepayers and metal contractors drays employed by the Manawatu County Council do indefinitely more damage to the roads ot that county than the wide tyre fibre drays, and that if the portion ot the Shanuon-Foxton road within the Manawatu county were properly termed and metalled, the wide tyres would improve instead 01 damaging the road ; also that this council is willing to meet delegates from the Manawatu Council at or near the Shannon bridge for the purpose ot discussing the matter.