THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1919. TURANGARERE-OPAEA ROAD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3347, 27 November 1919, Page 4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1919. TURANGARERE-OPAEA ROAD.

' In another column, Mr Pedersen, “County Councillor representing the Ruanui Riding,‘ publishes all the parIticulars that can yet be made available in connection with metalling Ruanui Riding roads, of which not the least important is the Turangai-.ere» ,Opaea Road.. “When discussing the ;subjcct in this column several days ago we were under’ some misapprehen‘sion, but plainly stated that we had on oflicial information to base our comments upon, and were relying upon general complaint, and a communication sent to us over the signature of “Negl,ected.’;’ We were quite satisfied that at that time there was some mistake relating to the Engineer's attitude to the Chamber of Commerce request to have the road made passable, and now that Mr Pedersen has furnished the complete correspondence it is clearly discovered that Mr Mair had already got means under way for having the Tux-angarere road put in: workable condition at the earliest pos-I sible moment. ‘As a matter of justice} no road in which one party of tlers is interested has any speciali claim to consideration over roads in‘ which other settlers are as deeply‘ concerned, but it is :1 well understood, practice to make particular places on‘ any road passable and safe for traffic, and it is now plain that Mr Mair-I was following that practice if nothing I more.. In his reply to the Chamber of Commerce request the Engilleef Stat‘! ed he would, at least, have the bad, portion of the road completed during‘ the present season, as he qlliie To‘! cognised the importance of it to Tai—l hape. Then Mr Pedersen states that probably the general public were not! aware that’before “N-eglected’s” letter appeared the Council had called tenders for metalling over 28 miles ofroads in the Ruanui Riding, including the Turangerere-Opaca 1985-‘ Mr Mairfs statement that he would, asleast, have the road repaired, is obviously explained by what Mr Ped(‘Tsoll States; Mr Mair would do what was possible, but he could not foresee that tenders would be received for any section of the 28 miles to 1139 mctallcd. As a matter of fact, we understand from what leaked out at the opening of wliatptenders did come in. 11° tender for this p€~rt.iclilaP’r.9ad..

to believe that a contract was let, to be commenced at once, for carting metal thereon. If "this is the true position, and we think it is, there can be but one explanation to letting a con'tra»c.t for carting without accepting a tender for metalling, and that is, the 'Engineer has decided to‘do -the inetalling with what. staff he can make -available; there is no other logical outlet. 1n... his letter to th.e Chamber. of Commerce. Mr Mair makes it qiiite clear why the road ‘could not be completed in one year, the Government subsidy only amounts to a maigimuxn of £750 for each year, and if I:.r.‘é~ road Were made in one year all -subsidy exGeptillg the £750 would be forfeited and the road would have to ‘be paid for with the loan money settlers are I"<liSillg- Mr Pedersen goes more in to details and informs settlers that whereas contractors are given three years in which to complete other contracts, the Turangarere road has to be finished in two years. While complaints about the wretched state of this road were being discussed in Taihape it is evident, from the new light thrown on the subject, that Mr Mair was already adopting whatever special means he could think of for expediting the work that he recognised was urgently necessary on this particular highway. To remove any false idea. that may have gained ground it should be stated that the metalling of a section of the Ruanui Road was not paid~.for out of loan money, but that a special grant of £SOO was made for that work, consequently the -ngineer hadno ‘Voice or ‘choice in the matter The people of Taihapc and all settlers who use me Turangarere-Opaea Road have cause for utmost satisfaction with the progress Mr Mair has made, and with the Special effort he is apparently making to have the whole of the subsidy and corresponding loan money that can be made available, spent on the much—nee'ded work at the earliest possible moment. We are coirvinced that next Winter will furnish no very serious cause for camplaint.