THE OHURA ROAD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 57, 15 March 1907, Page 2

THE OHURA ROAD

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. A KEPLY TO THE ACTINGPREMIER. A special meeting of the Stratford County Council was held ou Wednesday to consider the proposal of the Acting-Premier, the Hon. W. HallJones, to hand the Ohura road oyer to the County to maintain. The mutter was discussed at great length, and in a | very reasonable spirit. The chairman, Mr G. A. March-ant opcuod the ball by moving to the following effect "(I) That this Couucil expresses its appreciation of the manner in which the Government has for years past suli.lividetl and settled tho lands in this important section of the county, and has so far as funds have permitted, up to the present, provided tlic means of access to them (2) That this Council has loyally and in a nonpartisan spirit, seconded the efforts of the successive administrations. (3) That this Council aflii'ins tho urgent need of continuing the construction of the Mt. Egmont ana Ongarue Railways, and as to the contemplated vesting of the uumetalled portions of the Ohura road, the Council declares that the County is financully quite unable to bear the burden of keeping open for traffic such a length of unmetallcd main road, and respectfully affirms that such action on the part of the Government would bo disastrous to a large body of struggling and deserving settlers, After seyeral councillors had spoken, Of McCutchan moved an amendment as follows:— 11 That iu view of the heavy, yet inadequate rates levied by this Council, iu vciv also cf the heavy loaijim.' charges upon the land for roading, amounting approximately to £05,000, and havu.g regard to the large amount raised by settlers under the Loans to Loe.u Bodies Act, now totalling £37, DUO for the County, this Council is ol the opinion that Eastern and Nov h Eastern Tarauaki lias reached the limit of the burden it can bear for roading purposes, and the Council respectfully conveys to the Minister their conviction that if the section of the Ohura road under consideration, is uow vested in tjie local body, the result io the network of small settlements throughout these districts will be disastrous, and thj Council expresses the hope that the lion, the Minister of Public Works, after such careful review as tho importance and difficulty of the position makes imperative, may decide that vesting must be delayed until the settlements established during the past fifteen years by Government are supplied with such road and railway facilities as will make success possible 1 of attainment." 1 The amendment was accepted in ' pi ice of tho motion anil carried uuani? ' mously. It was decided to forw.ird a ■ copy of tho rcsolulion lo Mr Walter 1 Byrnes, M.H.R., and lo the Hoa. the ' Minister for Public Works. '