Waitoa Roads and Drains

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43118, 30 July 1907, Page 2

Waitoa Roads and Drains

At the meeting of the Council yesterday, Mr M, Henry, of Waitoa, wrote in regard to the case with the Bank of New Zealand, and suggested that the work be gone on with in the meantime. He stated that his own loss will be about £SOO, and he had spent a large sum in grass and turnips for feed which had all been destroyed. He enclosed a copy of a telegram forwarded to the Bank to the effect that the Council and Bank should come to an agreement to proceed with the Waitoa roads and drains at the earliest possible moment, and not wait for the Court’s decision. The party found liable should ultimately gay the cost. The Department of Justice acknowledged the Council’s letter of the 10th inst., in regard to the Waitoa case, and stated that the Government had in contemplation certain proposals, which it is hoped will remedy the inconveniences complained of. Messrs Jas. Walker, T. Bellamy and W. Corrigan interviewed the Council on behalf of the Waitoa settlers in regard to the same case. Mr Walker stated that a week ago he drove a mob of sheep along one road, and to-day on the same road, the mud was up to the horses’ girths. Some of the settlers had to 'put fascines on the roads to get out of their properties. They held a public meeting at Waitoa on Saturday night, and the following motion was carried : —“ That Mr Cotter be instructed by the Piako County Council to draw the attention of the presiding judge to the impassable state of the roads on the Waitoa Estate, with a view of compelling the Bank to proceed with the drainage and formation forthwith, so as all roads on the Waitoa Estate shall be dedicated before winter, and impress on His Honor when giving judgment the need for a heavy penalty for failing to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court.” The Chairman stated that the question of all the Waitoa roads would be settled by this case. He moved that the resolution be forwarded to Mr Swarbrick for Mr~Cotter to ask the Court in giving its decision to fix a date when these roads should be made ; also to request their member to approach the Minister for Justice to hold a special sitting of the Court at Hamilton.