THE URUTI ROAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 136, 4 December 1911, Page 6

THE URUTI ROAD.

QUESTION OF A GRANT. There seems to be a considerable tangle concerning a grant of £200.0 which was voted about three years ago on a £ for £ subsidy basis on the Uruti road. When granted it was understood that it was for the purpose of metalling the existing portion of the dray road inwards towards Moki. This, with the £2iOOO that the settlers would raise by loan, would, it was estimated, complete the metalling to within half a mile of the end of the dray road. Beyond this it becomes merely a six-foot track along a bluff, and for about 70 chains is almost impassable, owing to portions having slipped away. In fact, a cago is used as a safer means of transit. A good deviation can be made by starting at Nicholls, on the Uruti road, and tunnelling under the hill, coming out near the Tangitu bridge. The settlers approached the Council some four years ago and asked for their assistance in putting tliis tunnel through. The Council, however, considered that it was a matter entirely for the Government, and that they could not see their way to assist, although they fully realised the need for the work. The settlers, through the Council, approached the Minister of Public Works on this subject, and apparently there is some confusion in official circles, for at Friday's meeting of the Clifton County Council, one of the settlers interested, Mr. Alex. Bone, forwarded a copy of a letter received from tho ITon. R. McKenzie, written to the Hon. Thus. Mackenzie, as follows: "Referring to the extract of latter from Mr. A. Bone, of Tangitu, Uruti, which you forwarded to me, I have to state that the deviation of the Uruti road to which Mr. Bone refers has already been fully considered, and a vote of £2OO, £ for £ on account of £2OOO, was provided on last year's Public Works Appropriations for the purpose of forming and tunnelling on the deviation in question. The expenditure of this money was offered to the Clifton County Council, who have so far taken no steps in the matter." • Mr. W. S. 'Short, Assistant UnderSecretary of the Public Works Department, wrote under date November 23, 1911, that representations had been made to his Department that the Clifton County Council was under the impression that the £ for £ subsidy on account of £2OOO, provided for the Uruti road, might be devoted to metalling that portion of the road already formed. If those representations were correct he had to inform the Council that the money was definitely provided for the purpose of formation of dray road and tunnelling on the deviation on the Uruti road and could only be devoted to that purpose.

Mr. C. F. Dowsett, engineer, said he I was absolutely certain that this money Iliad been voted three years ago for metalling and not for the deviation. He read the following letter from Mr. G. T. . Murray, District Road Engineer, under date October 28, stating that he first reported on this deivation in September, 1007. In October, 1008, he was instructed to enquire if the Clifton County Council would contribute £ for £ up to £IOOO for this. On November 28, 1.908. the Council replied expressing its inability to contribute, and nothing further was done in the matter. The £2OO authority for the Uruti road was for metalling from the Mokau road inwards towards Moki. This was at £ for £, and had appeared on the Estimates for the last three years. He considered the settlers referred to were laboring under a misapprehension. Mr. Dowsett said that the letter distinctly stated that the grant was voted | for metalling for which he (Mr. Dowsett) ) had given arc estimate four years ago. He thought that the letters should be referred to Mr, Murray for an explanation. Cr. O'Sullivan said that this grant was for metalling and was quite distinct from the deviation. The settlers should arrange at once to take up this £2OOO for metalling so as to keep the Minister of Public Works up to his promise.