KOPUTAROA-BUCKLEY ROAD.

Shannon News, 12 October 1923, Page 3

KOPUTAROA-BUCKLEY ROAD.

The Koputaroia-Buckley Road Committee met, at the Borough Council Chambers at Shannon on Tuesday evening, representatives being present from Levin, Koputaroa, Buckley and Shannon. Mr Bell (Koputaroa)' was in the chair. Mr Anderson’,s estimate for the cost of the proposed .road was discussed, but it was considered too great. The committee were satisfied the proposed road would certainly have been an excellent one, being 20ft wide and built up, above flood level, but they were of 'opinion that the flood level was becoming less annually on account of_ the drainage and.banking works ’ being carried out. Makerua which, is soma ten feet lower than the proposed Buckley road was now almost free from floods,, whereas afew years ago the road was sometimes impassable for a week at a time. It was pointed out that the two big cuts that are to. be made from' the Manawatu river will, in tlhe opinion of experts eliminate the floods, and the one at Hartley’s bend is expected to he started by December, this alone making a great difference 'to Koputaroa. The Buckley Drainage Board are also arranging to hire a dredge to bank, widen and straighten the ivopu'tama stream, so it is apparent the necessity' of building up the road is not warranted. Further, while the distance', from Levin to Shannon would only be reduqed by about half a mild, the settlers at Koputaroa, were at present very badly situated if they wish t£ travel northwards, The distance from Koputaroa railway station to Shannon is 4 miles ■35 chains, this route now being; closed for the want of formation of about two miles of road and thus the settlers .have to travel over the hills for a distance of over nine miles. It was therefore decided to write the Horowherma County Council and ask il' they would instruct their Engineer to prepare an estimate for the ; cheapest possible /road between Buickley and Koputaroa and further that a deputation from) the committee wiait on Mr J. Linklater. M.P., at Koputaroa on October 24th, before the opening of the new hall, with a view to obtaining his assistance in respect of getting a Government subsidy.