LEVIN-SHANNON ROAD

Otaki Mail, 18 July 1923, Page 3

LEVIN-SHANNON ROAD

SHORTER ROUTE DESIRED. At Saturday’s mooting of the Muiuwlieaun county Council, u deputation consisting oi *'repres»nuiUv«a ol Ui-e rill nun on Boron Council and Chain- * her of Commerce, the Levi* Borough Council and chamber of Comincrcc, and seniors of Kopufarou. district,, wiiitod on thy Council in respect o. tilt! proposed connecting road, between Buckley loud, and Kuputaroa. Cr. Bruadhuit, who introduced the deputation, explained that the mu liveowners had agreed lo dedicate land one chain in width, along the suggested route, and the European seniors concerned hud agreed to do ilie same. Tilts would probably become a main highway under the proposed Act. anu would in any case be an impon.uiu road, lie considered that it. would be a. good thing to find out if this would be a main highway; if not, a special rating urea might J»o formed and a loan subsidised by the County. Mr R. Law. ilia Kara, said as one oi the settlers interested, lie eduld support- what Cr. Broad be It had said as to the value of the road, it would open up a im of valuable country which was now considerably build icappad owing to lank ul at-; cog a, and he thought the time was now opportune to go aimed with the work. The land for the read had been promisee with the exception of 15 chains, which us if Was through a very small block, there might lie some difficulty in oi, t.-iining. This woo'd have to be ari.i.nged l'or. Cr. A. E, Hyde, i epresec i.ii'g the .Shannon Borough Council amt Cl...oilier oi Commerce, said that Levin was tile cum re of the dlsirict as bar a- ri,e stock market was concerned, and at pi'eseni stock owners*from the Shan- 1 non side had a long and tedious drive ; ;•> reach the stile. A iunher matter to he urn side tod was that when the High : ■-i.lion! was built in Levin as it tin ' ihHiWedly would lie. this road w>: give easy access to a number of climb ! 'eri otherwise imabie lo atle-nd. Speaking for the Borough council more particularly, it was generally felt that llie roqd would he in the best inter- j fsts of felie Boroughs 01 both l.evm I and sfelsimwt; us bringing th-wm inns ' , 'user contact with each other, and ul- 1 though tie was nut atithm i.-ed m do i ! so. lie cit'd not doubt tlqu his Council J would i»e prepared to malic some small i c-i-iinl nwarils the work. ’ The Mciyor of Levin," .Mr T. Hob- 1 sum, * iVpresentefi the r.evin Bor- 1 om-h Council, said that. Iliere. did not appear to be tiny doubt that the pro- 1 posefi ail w o t.i lhe of value both as giving h r acrc-s to markers am! I ai.-o bringing children nearer to tho l High School. His (.■itturij was in lav- i 1 cur of any scheme which was for the i licm-fl! oi' the (own and district and I lids road had their hearth- support. i Mr E. Bell, who spoke oil hehalj or i the settlers and ran-puyw* oi Kupu- I tanw. said he would like to enlarge oti wliat had been said aliout the lack of access to some of the farms along Uio proposed road. At least three "f these farms had no fronts go whatever to a formed road, but under the present scheme would have good ones. Furtdier a speeial drainage area had recently been found in Hu’s district and the drains necessary io the making of the road would be of material assistance to the men interested, in getting water awav. '"Mr. 1). \Y. MatlifsOn. who represented the Levin Chamber of Commerce, said his Chamber was in full spmpnthy wilh the proposal, especially in respect io the stock route and access to the High School, which, more directlv concernefi the Chamber. In answer 1o Cr. Bvder, Mr Law said be considered that 1 lie cost of the work should be distributed over the two ridings of Wirokino and Toko(niaru. The length of road to be rn-ade was about "ISO chains. Cr. Harkriess said that- ihe deputation was no doubt aware that a District Highways Board was being set up. He thought a recommendation ruiglit. go forward to this Board that this be a Main Highway. Cr. Hyde objecFed that tlie diftleuH-y in such a proceeding was that such an amount of time would be lest. Cr. Broadbelt supported the suggestion that tiie cost of the rand should lie spread over’at least tit* two counties mentioned by Mr Law. He sag-, jested that the Rovermnsnt should be approched for a grant; 'afte.r that 1' would npt be a big mattes’. The chairman, Cr. Monk, said that it was no doubt, known to ibo depuinjiiori that.a vote had_be*H takon | this auest-ioo y fars asro . and the 1 nronosal had boen deieciied. This v.as I:i £MOO or £6OBO jeb. The fiouncil (would give the question sv«ry consjd.eration, but the great difficulty wa« j goisg be finance. If th« *over»lneHt woujd moke n graar ii would make it easier t-ij go te the ratepayers for the remainder. It wa-s not an ea-v inattsr to get- neeple to agnee to raise a loan As for the Alain Highway, n was impossible to say at nresent. which wav it would go. He. had no wish to mislead people i under any ' cimim»tanc« It would be a long »oh »| f o gel this road.—A poll would have . to be taken and that was a lt'-ngti.«y process. However, -ho depmaiion > could rest assured thet the Council f would give the matter full ccasiderdtion, Thi fli«ut*s<ss» th*a tsaaksg

Council and withdrew, and it xx’as decided that as time did not permit of the matter receiving full consideration at the present meeting, it should come up for discussion at the next meeting of the Council in a month's time.