PUTARURU STREETS.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 44, 21 August 1924, Page 2

PUTARURU STREETS.

NO GOVERNMENT GRANT. Town Board Suggested. The following communication was received by the Putaruru Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening from the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates:—“ln March last the Putaruru Development Board made representations to me requesting a Government grant for the formation of streets in Putaruru township . I understand that your chamber has now succeeded the Developmeht Board and I have now the honour to inform you that the Board’s request has been very fully gone into and I find that all but two of the sections are now held under freehold tenure. I have perused a schedule showing the selling price of each section, and this by no means coincides with the Board’s statement that the Crown had disposed of these sections at prices ranging up to £225 per quarter acre section. As a matter of fact, it appears that the township sections were disposed of at very low prices compared with those obtained as a result of private sales, and such being the case I do not consider that the Government can reasonably be ex r expected to finance the formation of the roads and streets. At- the same time there appears to be no doubt that the formation of these streets should be put in hand at an early date, and as 1 understand there are at present between 450 and 55~0 people residing within a three-quarter mile ladius of the township the best thing* to do would be to form a town board and raise the necessary money by way of loan.

“ The price of land in Putaruru has increased to a very great extent recently as a result of the prospective value caused by the progress of the Arapuni hydro-electric works, and under these circumstances the present owners and especially those who purchased originally from the Crown should quite well be able to afford to contribute towards the cost of roading. “ The application for Government assistance has been carefully considered. but I regret I am unable to see my way to give a favourable reply.” Members said at least one quarteracre section, on the Tirau road near the post office, was sold by the Government for £223 at public auction. The Matamata county clerk wrote that in response to the petition forwarded by the chamber in regard to Kensington street the engineer would inspect the street. The chamber decided to thank the county chairman for having* moved that the engineer make the inspection and to ask that a deputation from the chamber be permitted to accompany him over the street.