THE STOCK ROUTE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 672, 26 October 1933, Page 6

THE STOCK ROUTE

CHANGE WANTED DEPUTATION FROM COUNTY COUNCIL WAITS ON BOROUGH COUNCIL ADJUSTMENT ATTEMPTED v The vexed question of the stock route through the borough to the saleyatds at Ngongotaha was before the Rotorua Borough Council again last evening when a deputation from the Rotorua County Council waited on the council asking that the route be again fixed by way of Ti Street and Malfroy Road. This was originally the route, but following strong protests from residents of Malfroy Road it was changed and made by way of Sala Street into Fenton Street past the golf links to Hemo Road and thence into Old Taupo Road. At the previous meeting of the council a petition from a. number of farmers protesting against the new route was forwarded by the County Council, wliich also supported the protest. The Borough Council, however, felt that it could not again alter the route and it was as a result of this decision that last evening's deputation waited on the council. The members of the deputation, Messr,s. H. P. Pord, A. L. Keith, J. J. Smyth, and R. Copeland Smith, stressed the inconvenience of the present round about route by way of Hemo Road and after hearing their representations the council decided to fix a new route by way of Devon Street. It was pointed out that practically all large mobs of stock coming through from the coast by-way of Te Ngae were now taking the Hamurana route round the lake to Ngongotaha and thus avoiding the borough. It was decided to ask the county to erect notices at Te Ngae drawing attention to this route. The chairman of the county council, Mr. H. P. Ford, said that his council had received a representative petition from farmers in the county asking that a protest be made against the Hemo Road route. It was felt that Ihe presont route would' put farmeiv to considerable inconvenience while the Pact that it ran through a podion of the thermal area made it dangerous to cattle at times of traffic rongoiti ms. They felt also that the new route was likely to be even more congested fhan the old one and that if cattle were allowed to be driven by way of Malfroy Road as before. theiv would be the least inconV'Uiieiice to farmers. Inconvezilent Yard's Mr. R. Copeland Smith supported Mr. Ford and pointed out that if the loadlrg yards were moved to Koutu a-: had oeon suggested, the position w«nld be evon more difficult than it was at present. The route by way of Hemo Road was most inconvenient and at present necessitated a day's ibiving from Te Ngae. If the council insisfed on this .route and the yards were moved to Koutu, it would mahe if. a two-day trip for drovers. Willing to Help The mayor in reply said that the rouncil was not desirous of embarassing farmers in any way. While the_ route was by way of Malfroy Road, however, there had been strong feeling among residents along the stock route and strong representations had been made to change the route and even to control the times of driving. Tt was not nntil a petition signed by 2 0 to .200 residents was received asking iYu an alteration in the route, that the council had acted. He ex.n iinw] this because he did not wan1 thern to think that the council had acted hastily in the matter. In general discussion, the mayor sa'd that he did not think that there was the remotest possibility of the council agreeing to revert to the Malfroy Road route, but it might be possible to agree upon a suitable alternative route. Diverting Large Mobs ■Mir. Smith said that the greater number of the cattle and sheep coming from the coast were now avoiding the town by taking the road round the lake. Th&se large mobs were probably what had caus d the trouble ibc begjnr :ng, and he thought fl.-nt if •ui.'e Uj -ans could be found of diverling these Ta-ge mobs by this route. a great deal of the reason for complaint on the part of residents on the stock route, would disappear.

CJond.-iHi arked Mr. Smith whai. •• e (liiF'.reiU c m dhstance was betwein the r iut.c jy.-und the lake from Tc Ng.ie and the present routthrough the borough to Ngongotaha. Mr. Smith said that the distance was appn'xinntiely the same from Te Ngae but there w.ers the farmers nearcv the town to be considered. In their cu>e, it meant a longer drive to take Ihem round the lake. ffn further discussion, Mr. Smith pointed out that it was impracticable tu regulate the hours for droving cattle through the borough. It was impossrble to provide against d.'lays on ihe road and there was nowhere to hold the cattle if they were ahead * of time. It was also poin'bed out that the council had n0 autbority to control the size of mobs gning through the town. Mjr. Smith, however, said that he felt sure that steps could be taken to divert the majority of the large mobs coming from the coast round the lake. ■ ■ • Imimediate Action After further discussion, the deputation withdrew, and the council proceeded to tgo into the matter. Cr. Gopd'son moved that the whole matter- he referred back to the general committee but tbis was defeated on an amendment to deal wdth the matter imimediately. Various routes were discussed, and it was finally decided, in view of ihe strong feeling of residents in the matter, that the council regretted that it could not agree to revert to th'e old route by way of Ti Street and Malfroy Road, but that it was pre.pared to offer alternatives. ' 'The general opinion was expressed tbat while the council should do all in its .power to meet the wishes of the farming community, it must also consider the wishes of its ratepayers and the town generally. Wherever the •route was placed, there was bound to be a protest but the ibest route

would be the one imposing the least hardship on the least number of people. •It was generally agreed that the present route was not , satisf actory and after several routes had been considered it was decided ;to fix the route by way of Cemetery Avenue, Mfarguerita Street, Hilda Street' to Maida Vale Street, Maida Yale Street across Fenton .Street ;into Devon Street t0 Old Taupo Road. It was also decided to ask the County Council to erect signs at Te Ngae directing drovers to use the route round the lake to Ngongotaha.