LEVIN-SHANNON ROAD.

Shannon News, 17 July 1923, Page 3

LEVIN-SHANNON ROAD.

SHORTER ROUTE DESIRED

At. Saturday's meeting of tiie Horowiienua County Council, a deputation, consisting of representatives of the Shannon Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce, the Levin Borough Council and Chainoer of Commerce, and settlers of Koputaroa district, waited on the Council in respect of the proposed connecting road between Buckley road and Koputaroa. Cr. Broadbelt, who introduced the deputation, explained that the native owners, had agreed to dedicate, land one chain in width, aiong the suggested route, and the European settlers concerned had agreed to do the same. This would probably become a main highway under the proposed Act. and would in any case be an important road. He considered that it would be a good thing to find out if this would be a main highway;'if not, a special rating area might be formed and a loan subsidised by the County. Mr R. Law, Ihakara, said as one of the settlers interested, he could support what. Cr. Broadbelt had said as to the value of the road. It would open up a lot of valuable country which was now considerably handicapped owing to lack of access, and he thought the time was now opportune to go ahead with the work. The land for the road had been promised with the exception of 15 chains, which as it was through a very small block, there might 'be some difficulty in obtaining. This would have to be arranged for. Cr. A. E. Hyde, representing the Shannon Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce, said that Levin was the centre of the, district as far as the stock market was concerned, and a p present stock owners from: the Shannon side had a long, and tedious drive to reach the sale- A further matter to ' be considered was that when the High School was built in Levin as it undoubtedly would be. this road would give easy access to a number of, children otherwise uniable to attend. Speaking for the Borough Council more particularly, it was generally felt that the road would be ini the best interests of the Boroughs of both Levin and Shannon as bringing them into closer contact with each other, and although, he was not authorised to do so, he. did not doubt that, his Council would be prepared to make some small, grant towards the. work. The Mayor of Levin, Mr T. Hobson, who represented the Levin Borough Council, said that there did not,, appear to be any doubt that- the proposed road would of value both as giving readier access to markets ano also? bringing children nearer to the High School. His Council was in*favour of any. scheme which was for the benefit. of the, toXvn ; and district and this road had their heart ly support. • Mr E. Bell, who spoke on behalf., of : the settlers and ratepayers of Koputarba, said he would like to enlarge,, on what had been said about the lack of access to some of the farms along the proposed road. At least three of these 'farms had no frontage whatever to a formed road, but under the present scheme would have good ones. Further a special drainage area had recently been found in this district and the drains necessary to the making of the road would be of material assistance to the men interested, in getting water away. . Mr. D. W. Matheson. who represented the Levin Chamber..of Commerce, said his Chamber was in full' spmpathy -with the proposal, especially in respect to the stock route and access to the High .School, . which more directly concerned the. Chamber. In answer to Cr. Ryder, Mr Law said he'Considered that the cost of the work should be ‘distributed over the two ridings of Wirokino and Tokomaru. The length of road to be made was about 180 chains. Cr. Harkness said that the deputation was no doubt aware that a District Highways Board was being sc; up. He thought a. recommendation might go forward to this Board tha* this be a Main Highway. Cr. Hyde objected that the difficulty in such a proceeding was that such an amount of time would he lost, Cr. Broadbelt supported the suggestion that the cost oi the road should be spread over at-least the two counties mentioned by Mr Law. He suggested that the Government should be approched ior a grant; -after that it would not be a big matter. The chairman, Gr. Monk, said that it was no doubt known to the deputation that a vote, had been taken on this question some years ago, and the proposal had been defeated. This was a £SOO0‘ or £6ooo'. job.' The. Council would give the. question every consideration, but the great difficulty was going to : be. finance. If the Government would make a grant it would make it easier to go l to the ratepayers for the remainder. It was not an ea,sy matter to get people to agree to raise a loan. As for the Main Highway, it was impossible to say at present, which way, it would go. H§ had no wish to mislead people; under_ any circumstance it would he a, long job to get- this road.—A poll would haveto be taken, and that was a lengthy process. However, the deputation could rest assured that the - Council Would give the matter full consideration. The deputation then thanked . the Council and withdrew, and it was decided that as time did not permit of the matter receiving full consideration at the present meeting, it should come up for discussion at the next meeting of the Council in a month's, time.