COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 91, 7 October 1911, Page 3

COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

<n- ■- HE-ADJUSTMENT PROPOSAL?.

The matter of re-adjusting boundaries between the Stratford'and Clifton counties, the proposals for which are the direct result of the advance of the Stratford-Ongame railway, was discussed again at yesterday's meeting of the Clifton County Council. Thirty-four settlers- of Matau petitioned the Council to arrange an adjustment, of -lMHindaries with the Stratford County by taking over the -South Matau and. Mangaoapa roads to the Kiorc railway station, on the grounds that at present the county boundary was about two miles from the railway while fully ninety" per cent, on this two miles of road was from the Clifton County, and that they felt that it was unreason-able and quite unfair to' expect the Stratford

I C-ounty to maintain the road, while so [ large a proportion of the traffic thereon | was from outside that county. , The Stratford County Council wrote: ''At the present time there is an expensive -and ever-increasing traffic from Clifton County territory to the Kiore railway station, necessitating constant expenditure in upkeep of the portions of the above-named roads in Stratford County, almost wholly for the benefit of Clifton County ratepayers. The suggested proposal was to bring the county boundary along the main ridge above the tunnel on the Mangaoapa road, a short distance from the Kiorc railway station. A plan showing the proposed change' would be forwarded, hut in the meantime the -Stratford Council would

be glad t>f a general expression of opinion front the Clifton Cou-ncil in regard to the matter." The chairman wrote that, personally, he was of opinion that before anything definite was decided upon full inquiry ought to -he made for the purpose of ascertaining the proportion of traffic contributed by the settlers of each county, and whether a contribution towards maintenance by this county would not suffice. In any case, it wis a question that ought to' be dealt with by a full council, and should lie held over until the new council came into office. Cr. KenmngloH said the petition was signed -by the bulk of the settlers in the Matiiu and Purangi districts, and there was no doubt in his mind that the change should lie made. He moved that this Council is in -favoir of the re-adjust-ment of boundaries, and that the Stratford County Council will be approached on the matter, the Clifton Council proposing to take over the Matau and Mangaoapa roads as far as the railway line.