WAOTU-ARAPUNI.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 56, 20 November 1924, Page 2

WAOTU-ARAPUNI.

CARTAGE OF TIMBER. Question of Damage. The question of damage to the roads between Waotu and Arapuni by ' the cartage of timber for the Arapuni works was before the Matamata County Council on Friday. The agent at Arapuni for Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Company, Ltd. (Mr. F. W. A. Handman), wrote as follows in reply to the county clerk:— “We regret to hear that you are receiving bitter complaints from the ratepayers with regard to the condition of the road between Waotu and Arapuni. We ourselves are not using this road except for motor car traffic but we are informed by our buildingcontractor (Mr. R. Sanders) that he has been carting timber over the roads at the rate of about two loads per day. We suggest this can hardly be considered ‘ extraordinary traffic.’ “ We are further informed that the roads are not maintained in condition for traffic and that the only reason for using them alternately is one of them becoming intransitable. The traffic in question will shortly cease, the material at present being transported being used in connection with our preliminary work?, and thereafter our traffic will be of a very intermittent nature. “ Under the circumstances we do not consider it a just claim to be called upon to indemnify the counci, in respect of expenditure required to keep the county roads in reasonable condition of repair and regret we are unable to make any suggestion in this respect. We may mention that wc have had a small gang of men working on parts of the road for the past fortnight in order that our motor cars may pass with reasonable safety.” Or. E. J. Darby (Putaru.ru riding) said the loads were big ones, drawn by powerful six-horse teams. Ten light loads per day might not do much damage but one heavy load could cut up the road in damp weather. This had happened on the -Huihuitaha road. Cr. S. H. Judd (Maungatautari) : The contractors evidently do not understand what “ extraordinary traffic ” is, and I move that the clerk forward them copies of the clauses in the various Acts dealing with the matter and pointing out . county councils’ powers under these Acts. The motion was carried.