OHURA WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 18 May 1907, Page 2

OHURA WORKS.

MINISTER OK PUBLIC WORKS IX REPLY. In reply to a scries of resolutions of Ohura settlers, with reference to mud works in the Taranaki hinterland, .Mr. ■Jennings, Jf.11.1t., has received the following reply from the ilon. Mr. Hall■lones, iloitlinif seriatiun with the requests as follows:

1. That a dray road be immediately formed to connect Mangaroa with Tutu along the route chosen by the district road engineers. "In reply to this, [ have to point out that if the above description means by way of the Mahorahora and Tokirima roads, the amount provided for the work- during the year 19(1(1-7 is .t.'KIO, which has been all authorised for expenditure, and at the end of the year .mi had been spent.' 2. That the Hon. Minister lor Public Works be asked if anv of the voles for the Ohura road were intended to be spent on road formation through the Tn- . tu settlement. "No vote, or part of any vote, was taken specially for such ex- , penditnre."

3. Asking Hint a road be formed from about the three-mile peg on the Ohura road to Maugapapa. "Since your letter Mas received, I have had an exploration ol the mute made from which it appears that the proposed road will be through a good country chiefly in the hands of the .Maori owners, that its length will 1, 0 approximately eight miles, and (lie cost lor forming as a six foot bridle road, about £18(10. The question of providim. money for this work will be considered in preparing the coining estimates." ■l. That work on Kapiihn road be recommenced at once. "Work has been resumed out of the money voted bv Parliament (£220), £2lO has been'spent and out of loading £341. Three men arc now employed on the road, and instructions have been issued to emplov more men when available."

5. Protesting against the sudden stoppage of work throughout the district. "Towards the end of tlie financial year it was found necessary, in order to keep the expenditure of 'loading" within the slatutnry limit, to stop expenditure under that heading. But this did not amount to so serious a proceeding as implied by the resolution. As a matter of fact, the number of men employed in the road district immediately before the stoppage, of expenditure as above -was 100, the number decreased as the time to 12(5, but rose again in three weeks to ISO'" tlloll '" A '" -il t0 194 ' aml '" " 0W