KOPUTAROA-BUCKLEY ROAD.

Shannon News, 21 January 1924, Page 2

KOPUTAROA-BUCKLEY ROAD.

MAIN HIGHWAY ROUTE. The Horowhenua County Council on Saturday received a letter from the Koputama Road Committee, re the Koputaroa-Bucldey road advising that the .opinion oi a public meeting held at Koputurou on November 29 was that file road was essential to the whole district and was not to be treated ,as a local matter. They felt convinced that this section should form part of the Main Highway from Wellington to Auckland. They requested that the Council write to the Engineer in Chief of the Public Works Department, pointing out the great usq this road would be as part of the main highway, at the same time requesting that liis department furnish a report and if possible an estimate. If the road was to cost £15,000 the outlay from a merely parochial point of yiew would, not |be justifiable, but as a national highway it would be worth the cost.

Cr. Broadbelt said Unit the settlers were very anxious to have the road made. The question was to find out whether (he Main Highways Bourn would pu.t the main highway through there or elsewhere. They wished to enlist "the assistance of Mr ,Monk as a member of „the Board.

The wish' of the meeting was not quite correctly stated In the letter. It was to approach the executive of.the District Highways Council with a view to getting their support and then going to the Highways Board. The chairman the DistrictHighways Council had had no difficulty in' deciding on the highway from Waikanae to Levin but there was h difficulty further north. The main thing was to get a good road through the county. They did not want to kill the proposition with an excessive cost. It must be remembered that it was a question for the good of the whole highways district and not a local matter As the Council’s representative on the Highways Council lie had already nominated two roads as the main highway. Still the executive of the Highways Council, of which he was a member, were to inspect the roads and he would make a recommendation that they consider the Ko- - putaroa-Buckley road. He pointed out that if-the proposition went to the Highways Board ,it would probably be referred hack to the. County Engineer far an estimate, i.e., _to the same man whose existing estimate the advocates of the road said was too high. Cr. Catley thought the easiest route should be chosen for the Main Highway as it would he a permanent one. They should provide for the future and' should not be deterred by the expense of the! road. On the' motion of Cr. .Broadbelt, seconded by Cr. Harlmess, it was decided that it be a recommendation to the chairman to place before the, executive Off the District Highway Council the proposed route from Koputaroa. to Buckley with) a view to the route becoming part of the main highway.