PERPETUAL FORESTS REQUEST

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 306, 19 September 1929, Page 4

PERPETUAL FORESTS REQUEST

ABANDONMENT OF ROADCouncil Not Favourable. At Friday’s meeting of the Matamata County Council, N.Z. Perpetual Forests, Ltd., wrote asking the council’s consent to the abandonment of a dedicated road through portion of No. 1 block, Tokoroa—an extension of the Pokai-Whenua road. The company’s letter to the council stated that the road line had been surveyed and the intention originally was to give access to Crown lands on the north-western boundary of the Tokoroa block, but there was no settlement, and not likely to be for many years to come, as the company had acquired the whole block and established a plantation. The company’s policy, it was explained, was to retain all roads through its properties as private roads, so that it could restrict public use and thus minimise the risk of forest fires. Cr. Cox said the road was that commonly known as Halse road. It *

was certain that it would ultimately be required as a through outlet to Rotorua. The road would certainly be needed and to give access to farm lands, too. The clerk said the Rotorua County Council had agreed to the closing of the part of the road over which it had control. Cr. Cox said he doubted whether the Lands Department would entertain the proposal. The road led to Crown lands, and was provided to give access to those lands. Several councillors spoke against acceding to the request, and on the motion of Cr. Allen, it was decided to reply declining the proposal, pointing out that the road would be required to give access to Crown lands.