MAKERUA SUBDIVISION.

Shannon News, 15 March 1927, Page 3

MAKERUA SUBDIVISION.

proposal for a roading loan. TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE CONTROLLING BOARD. Plans were received by the Horowhenua -County Council on Saturday from Mr H. R. Farquhar, surveyor, of Palmerston North, together with petitions signed by the A. and L. Flax-dressing Company and the Wirokino Flaxmiliing Company, for the subdivision of Makerua lands, in conne-.-tion with which the Council was asked to accept dedication of the uecessaiy roads, which have rot all been formed as yet. The chairman (Cr. G. A. Monk) stated that an inspection of the area was made about a fortnight ago by the Finance Committee: They had not met since to deni with the matter, and he suggested that it be referred again to them. If the Council would give tincommittee permission to act, then t necessary steps could be taken in favour of accepting dedication of the road.s However, the Council might prefer to deal with it now. The committee l>ad requested that a petition 'be. signed by the property owners of the district, and this had been done. He moved that ;iie Finance Committee be given power to act in the matter. The chairman added that before any loan eould be raised the matter would have to come before the Local Bodies Loans Board, who would have the last word on the question. The Council had to say whether it considered the cutting up cf the land a feasible proposition. Personally, after inspecting the property, he thought that it contained a lot of very fine land, which could be subdivided if it could be kept dry The promoters also .wanted to subdivide the flax lands into small areas ‘Cr Kilsby asked if this was one of those cases where a special loan was wanted before the land had been subdivided The Chairman: No; the land is- subdivided; but until there is a dedication of these roads, a title cannot be given to the individual sections. Cr Kilsby: Is it not the duty of the Council to see that those, roads are put in order previous to their being taken over by the Council? The Chairman: What would be done in this case would be to request that the roads be formed and metalled to our satisfaction, before accepting dedication. Cr. Kilsby: Is it not the place of the owner of the property, in subdividing, to form and metal those roads out ot his own money, instead of raising a special loan ? The Chairman: The money will b raised over the land. There are two properties I don’t think we can offer any objection where the settlers baud together and form a rating area to make roads. Ur. Kilsby: We never hear of any cases'of property being cut up in which, previous tQ. the cutting-up, they are a. ready roaded. There seems to be something wrong with the Act. The Chairman: No; we don't hear of many such ca^es. Cr. Ryder said that the buyers ol the land, when it was put up for sale, should know about the special rate being put through to road the propertj'. The chairman said he did not thnk there was any fear that the buyers would not make thorough investigation in regard to the rates, because it was wCU known that the swamp land was heavily rated. He, had no doubti that the promoters could raise the .money, as had been suggested; ,lut it appeared to him that it was one of the Council’s duties to assist a scheme of settlement such as this. Cr. Jensen said he would be in favour of holding the matter over for a few days, so that- they could have a talk to the petitioners. The chairman mentioned that Messrs Seiferts had already formed 35 chains of a road and had erected a bridge. He did not know of any richer land in the country; it was (extremely fertile, strong land. The" flax was a payable, crop to-day, and it would remain so if disease did not attack it. , Cr. Ryder: It is always a good flaxgrowing proposition. Cr. Barber stated that Mr Seifert contended that flax was a better paying . proposition than butter-fat. The Chairman: I told the late Prime Minister that, and he laughed at me; but it is so. . Cr. McLeavey stated that he inspected the property with the Finance Committee. It, was a fine piece of land, with great possibilities if it could bo kept free of flood-water. The ;non.-y to be borrowed for roading purposeswould be a mere bagatelle on that block, and their need not be any tear in regard to collecting the rate. Cr. Whyte said that men could work in the flaxmills lor nine months of the year and improve their sections during Ithe other three months. lhe Chairman: The prorietors have had requests from the men to do that. Cr. Whyte: I think those are the mui who will chieflly be the buyers. The following resolution was then passed, on • the motion of Cr. Catley, seconded by Cr. Ryder: “That on an estimate of the. cost of the roads being given by the Engineer, the proposafor a loan be, submitted to the Local Bodies Loans Board for approval, and the petitions be requested to enter into such agreement as may be required by the Finance Committee.