THE PAHAUTANUI ROAD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5527, 13 December 1878, Page 3

THE PAHAUTANUI ROAD.

A deputation, consisting of Mr. Mason, the Chairman of the Hutt County Council, Messrs. Hastwell and Smith, waited upon the Colonial Treasurer yesterday, to request aid from the Government towards repairing tho serious damage lately inflicted by the floods upon the road to the West Coast.

Mr. Mason explained that the money at the disposal of the County Council was altogether insufficient to meet the sudden and unexpected demand made upon their resources. At least £6OO would be needed to repair the road. The balance available for expenditure at the last meeting of the County Council was only £lO9, and the Council was not in a position to repair the works and reopen the road for traffic. Mr. Ballance informed the deputation that the only vote from which any grant in aid of such works as those now required by the Hutt County Council could be made was the £59,000 voted for damage done by floods. Strictly speaking, he believed that this money had been originally intended for Otago, but a portion of it had been lent to Canterbury, and he thought that under the circumstances a similar concession might be made for this work. At the same time, the Government thought it very desirable that the districts which received assistance should show their willingness to help themselves bj contributing towards repairing the damage done. It was to be hoped that the County Council would agree with this view of the case, and subscribe say half the amount require. Mr. Mason observed that the county was already taxed up to the utmost limit that could bo borne —not in the form of rates only, but in the form of heavy toll charges. The county was, ho believed, more heavily taxed than any other county in New Zealand. Mr. Smith explained that the riding through which the road passed had a very small number of ratepayers living within it. If an attempt were made to levy a special rate in order to raise money to meet the difficulty, even if the heaviest rate allowed by law were levied, it would be altogether insufficient to repair the road. At least £SOO to £6OO would be required to open the road for wheel traffic, and this sum could not be raised. A conversational discussion ensued, when Mr. Ballance said that the county had the borrowing powers under the Act, and in any case it was only possible for the Government to grant money as a loan. Mr. Mason desired to know for how long the loan would be open, and was told that as the present system of subsidies was only guaranteed for two years from this date, that would be the limit of the time which the Government was prepared to lend the money. It 'was explained that owing to the diverse interests of different parts of the county there was no chance ef a loan being generally agreed to by the ratepayers of the whole county. The Pahautanui-road was

only of service to a small section of ratepayers, though of importance as a main line of communication with the West Coast. The Colonial Treasurer observed that the Government declined to accept any responsibility whatever in regard to the main roads of the colony. If the counties would not undertook this work, the question arose, of what use are the counties at all ? No doubt if a main road were suffered to fall into disrepair it would be a great calamity; but the subsidies were given with a view to the maintenance of main roads, and the responsibility rests with the counties only. He suggested that the County Council, after its next meeting, should make an application for a definite sum, to be advanced by the Government as a loan for two years only ; and it was necessary that the county should undertake to repay the loan out of tho subsidies at the end of the time. Mr, Mason informed the Colonial Treasurer that a special meeting was called for Tuesday next, to consider this question, and the Council would then send in the requisition required, Mr. Smith took the opportunity of making an application for a telegraph office at Pahautanui, and Mr, Ballance undertook to make enquiry on the subject. As a large quantity of land had lately been set aside for settlement on the deferred-payment system in the neighborhood, it was quite possible that Dr. Lemon might be prepared to recommend the establishment of a station there. The deputation having thanked the Hon. Mr. Ballance for his kindness, then withdrew.