TUAKAU

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 364, 28 March 1918, Page 3

TUAKAU

TUAKAU - RAZORBACK ROAD.

A meeting, by the Franklin County Council, of settlers interested in the proposal to raise a loan for the formation of the short piece of road to connect Dominion Road, Tiiakau, with the Razorback Road to enable settlers on the Razorback to have more direct access was held in the Public Hall, Tuakau, yesterday. Cr H. Wilcox presided and among those present were Mr W. Glasgow and Captain Ryder (representing the Tuakau Town Board), and the County Clerk (Mr Alan P. Day). The Chairman explained that as a result of an interview with the settlers some time ago a suggestion was made, in order to provide a road from Tuakau to Razorback, that a special loan should be raised by the settlers likely to benefit by the road. As a result the County Engineer prepared an estimate of the cost Continuing, the Chairman said that a deputation had waited upon the Premier who was in sympathy with the proposal and a letter had since been received from Sir W. Fraser, the Minister of Public Works, authorising a grant of £2so—being a £1 for £1 subsidy—towards the work. Cr Wilcox mentioned that the Engineer put the cost of the work at £750, so that the sum of £ooo would have to be provided. In reply to an enquirer, the Chair man stated that the length of the proposed road would be about 50 chains.

Mr J. G. Thompson formally moved that a loan of £SOO should be raised to connect the Razorback and the Dominion Road.

Mr G. P. Ewing remarked that the matter of the proposed rating area was an important point. As far as he could see the road would be of no practical advantage to Whangarata, in fact it might be a detriment and would not increase the prosperity of Whangarata. Mr Edward Jones submitted that no road could be a detriment to any locality.

Mr Ewing differed and argued that under certain circumstances a road could be detiimental. He urged that the boundaries should be first defined.

The County Clerk explained that •very opportunity would be given later for any person to ohj«ct to the loan on the grounds that they would not receive any direct benefic. Mr Allsop seconded the motion, remarking that the resolution was only a tentative one.

Mr Ewing moved an amendment to the effect thut before the meeting committed itself toanv proposed loan the area should be oefir ed.

A plan of the district having been examined the proposed rating area was defined and agreed to The original motion was then remodelled and on b«ing put to thr meeting was carried unanimously an follows: "That "he necessary steps be taken by the County Council to raise a loan of £.500 for the road from Tuakau toEazorback and that the rating area be all the sections fronting the said road from the Great South Road to the southernmost corner of section 17 Maungatawhiri F—i<di and on to Tuakau town bonndalj " The chairman expressed his willingness at all times to assist the settlers in obtaining any road to improve a district. Fie was strongly of opinion that the road would benefit everyone and by taking cattle to Tuakau where there were three sales a month it would be better than driving them to Runciman. Mr Allsop urged that the Tuakau

Town" Board and the local business people who would benefit by the proposed access road should contribute towards the ooet

The chairman replied that whilst the Town Board wonld doubtless assist the county it would not be wise to include them in the special rating area.

The County Clerk having explained the procedure to be adopted for the raising of the loan the chairman promised to do his best to have the work preceded [with so that if possible the road would be open for use by next creamery season After congratulations by Mr J. Fulton to the settlers for the unanimous way in which they had favoured the raising of the loan a vott to Cr Wilcox for presiding terminated the meeting.