ONEWHERO.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 154, 10 March 1916, Page 4

ONEWHERO.

THE PROPOSED ROAD DEVIATION. FURTHER DISCUSSION AT COUNTY COUNCIL. Tlio matter of the proposed road deviation through Mr H. Hamilton's property at Onewhero, so ho'.ly discussed at a meeting of ratepayers last Saturday as reported iu our last issae, again came up for discussion at tho monthly meeting of the Raglan County Council at Ngaraawahia on Wednesday. A deputation, consisting of Messrs S. 11. Crawford, L L. Allen, W. Keyes and T. F. Muir, waited on tlio Council thereon and submitted the names of several additional ratepayers in tho proposed rating area, who were desirous of attaching their names to the petition for the deviation.

Tho clerk reading a counter petition that had been received and also an application signel by several ratepayers who had signed the petition, but were anxious to have their names removed therefnui.

The counter petition read as f Jlows, i.e. : We, the principal ratepayers in the Onewhero and Wairamarama districts object to the proposed deviation of the main road at To Hirua on the grounds that it is quite uuuecessary and further that the present time, when economy should be practised, is inopportune for the work to be let. Tho money spent on the present road had completely transformed it and has put it in a thoroughly renovated condition.—The signatures appended were those of Messrs E. H. Collier, H. Dyer, 0. A. L. Lindberg, Niel Ohlsou, H. Hamilton, J. Cathcart, J. W. Henderson, H. W. Henderson, A. Cathcart. D. A. Moore, W. H. Alexander, G. W. Bates, F. S. Ball, C. E. Walter, C. N. Kelsey,. K. K. Kelsey, E, Dufaur, J. McDonald, L. W. Keals, 0. F. Willis, E. M Andrews, J. Fellow, 8. J. Hills, F. J. Dawes, flira to Aho, N. Clark, D. Fulton, G. Dyer and A. H. McDonald. Tho application re signatures withdrawn, bearing the date 6th March, read as follows viz., : We have signed a pet'tion in support of the deviation through Mr Hamilton's property near Onewhero but after due consideration do not wish to support the petition if the road has to be acquired and made out of a special loan and our properties have to bear a portion of the special rate.—The signatures attached were those of Messrs A. R. Watson, F W. Rutherford, A. S. Cripps, Pairama Keenß, C. B. Spraggon, G. W. Revell, and J. Aston.

Mr Crawford objected to tho Messrs Henderson brothers' signatures appearing in the counter petition. He claimed that their property was outside the special rating area and that accordingly they were not interested in tho road. Ho further expressed the opinion that they were well provided for with a metalled road leading to their property.

Cr Cobourne informed Mr Crawford that the Council had not as yet agreed to the proposed Special Rating Area. Tho chairman (Cr Campbell Johustone) remarked that the petitioners had rnado application for such an area to be defined.

Mr Crawford at this stage submitted the following nainea of people whose sympathies were with the petitioners and who, accordingly, were desirous of having their names attached to the petition for tli9 deviation, viz :—Mrs B. J. Reid, Messrs Pairama, E. Dromgool, A. H. Crawford and B. Beid. There were two or three other ratepayers, ho said, who would havo recorded their signatures in favour of the deviation, but circumstances had prevented him from obtaining thorn. The clerk pointed out to Mr Crawford that Pairama had written applying for his name to be withdrawn from the list of petitioners.

The clerk submitted the result of the canvass for signatures, which went to show that 2'J interested people had signed in favour of lhe proposition and 34 against.

Mr Crawford again raised objec tion to Messrs Henderson's signatures.

The clerk stated that Mr John Allen's name should not be on the list of petitioners, as he was not a ratepayer. The chairman considered that the proposed special rating area, as it stood, should be taken into account. Cr Soavill explained that what Cr Moore had inteneled the Council to believo was that Messrs Henderson wore interested in the road. Mr Crawford claimed that if that was so then every land owner on tho road leading to the Waikato Heads was interested.

Cr Cobourne gave support to Cr Moore's contention, and said that if the main' road was to bo shifted Messrs Henderson would certainly bo interested. The chairman said that he did not know who drew out the area Cr Seavill called tho chairman's attention to the fact that they were wasting time over discussing two signatures, as it was not going to be a bare vet 3. Mr Crawford stated that it was with a view of submitting the data to tho ratepayers, before going to tho Council with a request for a poll to be taken, that ho had applied to the clerk for information, which was refused, with reference to the proposed rating aiea, otc. They had net contemplated taking a poll tor £ 1400. Ho had interviewed tbo Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W, F. Massey, With a view of ascertaining if he was favourable towards the Government making a grant of £SOO, £ for £, for the work, and found that the Primo Minister would favo irably entertain the suggestion. Mr Crawford hero submitted live letters, which tho clerk read. They were from settlers iu tho Onewhero riding, and expressed their approval of tho proposal. The clerk to Cr Lowry : There aro 08 ratepayers in the proposed special rating area.

Mr Crawford contended that as the petitioners represented threefourths of the rateable land in the

aiea wheieas those opposed to it only represented one-fourth, the former party bhould have more consideiation than the latter. He claimed that the report that appeared iu the ! " Pukekohe Times "of the meeting ing convened by Cr Moore and held at Onewhero on Saturday evening last would show tint Mr Dawes said that the deviation would cost £2500. The petitioners would ceaso operations if they had to raise £I4OO. The inouey to be expended in the gully together with £IOOO would put the deviation through and make a good job of it. The chairman stated that it would take £I4OO to put the road through and he expressed the opinion that it would be unwise to arrange for a loan which would not complete the work.

Mr Crawford claimed that tho names on the counter petition were not worth considering but the chairman differed and expressed the Council's intention of giving them due weight. Mr Keyes was of the opinion that as Henderson's gully was dangerous it was an urgent necessity that the road should be deviated ; if not, he said, it would again come before the Council at a later date. The chairman intimated that it was his own personal opinion that the matter should the settled at a poll. Cr Moore gave expressions to views that coincided with the chairman's remark.

Mr Keyes to the chairman : Give us an opportunity of seeing what we can do by way of raisiug a special loan before putting the metal in the gully. Tho chairman : If the ratepayers say it is wrong to place the metal iu the gully and that it should be kept for the deviation the council will do so. He pointed out, however, that the other party (those opposed to tho petition) would push the council to proceed with the work. Cr Cobourne suggested that tho proposal should go to a poll. Cr Moore resented the work in the gully being hung up and said that the contract had been letThe chairman stated that Mr Withers (Public Works Department) had suggested to the council that it might be wise to stop the work from proceeding. Cr Moore: Tho ratepayers havo not had the position placed fairly before them.

Cr Soavill was of the same opinion and said that the ratepayers had signed the petition under a misapprehension that the cost would only be £750. Mr Crawford : The matter has not been misrepresented. We do not intend to ask for a loan until a guarantee of a grant £ for £ is forthcoming from the Minister. Could not tho work iu the gully be held up in the meantime '1 The chairman: If the District Engineer should ask us to suspend the woik we would have to but if you could get a definite reply aud could agree on an area and decido on a definite amount, it could be placed before the ratepayers and settled. If you can get it through for the £SOO, £ for £ and £400) presumably the cost of the money to bo expended in the gully) there is no reason why it should not go through.

The clerk, in reference to a previous suggestion made by Mr (.'rawford that ho had withheld information Mr Crawford had applied for, stated he had done so because it was the practice that tho information should bo given through the district councillor.

The chairman upheld the clerk's action.

Mr Crawford : 1 do no', bknie Ihe clerk. Mr Muir remarked that it seemed all the councillors were ia favour of the deviation, so lie a.coidingly asked for their assistance in the matter. Cr Moore: All I want is a fail and tipuaro deal to place the i orrcct details before the ratepayer:-. Several of them did dot understand the petition. It is impossible to get a grain from the Government Tho Minister of Public Works has stated he has already in handed tho money duo to tho Depaitment till March 1017. 1 am of opinion that the proposal would bo defeated if a poll were taken. Continuing, lie said, that more names would be scratched ell the petition as a result of fc?atu d iy's meeting lie also mentioned tint, Mr Hamilton wanted £1 ion for the land required and legal 1-. es would amount to a big sum.

By instruct.on of the chairman the cleik read a letter !toiu Mr Hamilton's solicitors Mossr-. McGregor aud Lawiie. of Auckland), which was to the effect that they had been instructed by Mr Hamilton to object to any road being taken ' through his properly, and if such road was taken he would lodge a claim against the council for £llOO, made up as follows : Value of land to bo taken, £2! jo : cost ol fencing, £120; loss of water, £250 : and injurious eifect to the remainder of Mr Hamilton's land, £NOO. Mr L. L. Aden : 1 understand that j the deviation will cost between £750 j aud £BOO. The chairman; Thai i.- only for! labour. The engiu.ecr . The compensation is not included in that amount, Tho engineer to Mr Crawford ; j Mr Hamilton would not deal in con- i nectiou with his property, but ttated j that he would light the nutter out iu i court. The chairman expressed the desiro to do a fair thing, but the depu- j tatiou, he said, would have to recog- I niso that they could do nothing j while the majority of the r.itep iyei> j weie against tho proposal. lie ! suggested that the latepayeis should j try and arrango a workable ••cbeuic and then the council and Cr Mooro j would support it. Cr Mooro again objected to the chairman's suggestion that tli«- work in the gully should I- lie 11 up. Mr Orawfoid said that it they had known that the money was going to i be expended in the gully they would ; have tried to stop it, and would have j had tho petition in earlier. Cr Moore stated that he informed J tho ratepayers at a meeting wh re! tho mouey was ulloi itcd [> r. Tho chairman > xpre.- ■ I Iu in I lenlion of not < *-n\i* i:n;■■ lh" ■ >■: ■II one way or the other. Ue .''gain I pointed out, however, that the majority of tho ratepayers were ; against the proposal.

Mr Keyes : Will the council not decide to prevent the metal from being laid in the gully to allow us an opportunity of ascertaining whether or not we can obtain a grant '(

The engineer advised the council that if they went hack on the work they had already decided on it would create difficulty. Personally, ha said, he favoured the deviation but the council alter consideration had deemed it advisable to continue with the present road. In reply to Cr Saville the engineer said that the amount that would accrue from the work being stopped in the gully would ba between £4OO and £SOO. The petitioners, he added, would not be able to secure a £ for £ subsidy on money paid for compensation. Mr Crawford remarked that they would not offer any objection to the metal being placed on the road if they were unsuccessful in securing a loan.

Cr Mooro urge I that if the gully woik was stopped it would mean that 20 or 30 milk suppliers would have to plunge through mud during tho winter.

Mr Keyes pointed out that as metal had already been placed on tho road and without good ofiect since tho guhy continued to get boggy, it was the right thing to suspend tli9 work. Cr Tapper roso to a point of order and suggested that consideration should bo given to tho deviation.

The chairman upheld Cr Tapper's contention and proposed that the ckrk should supply the deputation with a map of tho proposed area and a rating lull. Cr Dowry seconded the proposal and it was carried.

The deputation thou withdrew and tho subject dropped.

On Friday, the 3rd inst., a conceit and dance Mere held in the Public Hall to bid farewell to Messrs Douglas Baker and Cyril Edgar, who left on Tuesday last for tiie training camp at Trentham. Among the company present was Private Stauley Ohlsen, who being now convalescent hopes soon to return to the firing line. Cr D. Moore presided and, iu his opening speech, alluded to the gallantry of the two guests in serving under the colours. He also mentioned that Mr Borthwick Baker had attested, but owing to family claims would be unable to gratify his laudable ambition to take part in the war. At an interval in the piogrammo Mr Ohlsen, senr., made a few patriotic remarks and appealed to slackers to carry out their duty by assisting the Empire. A capital musical programme was earned through, the contributors to tho samo being Mrs Bark, Misses Hyde, Patten, Mayall and Geraghty, and Messrs Bark and C. Edgar. Supper having been partaken of, dancing followed, Mrs Bark kindly supplying the music and well earning the thanks of all present. On Sunday, March sth, the Anglican Harvest Festival Services were held morning and evening in the church and were conducted by the Rev. L. Foulkes. The sacred edifice was artistically decorated with grains, llowers, fruit, vegetables, etc. At bo'h services tho accommodation was severely taxed and tie choir of young folks recently organised made the singing of the Harvest Hymns a great success.