MAN WAITARA-MOKAU ROAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1916, Page 6

MAN WAITARA-MOKAU ROAD.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MINISTER A number of settlors, including, besides others, Messrs Fraser, Scott, Mayne, Bavorstoc-k and others, telegraphed to Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P.. about the condition of the main Wai-tara-Mo!;au rood. The telegrams were forwarded 0)1 to the Minister for Publie Works, who replied:—''l have to advise yon that I have received a preliminary report from the Resident Engineer, who states he was over the road shortly before Christmas, and did not see anything which could be described as dangerous. At several of the washout, temporary deviations and approaches have been made, and these, no doubt, are what is referred to. These temporary approaches have been put in pending- the arrival of pipes, which are at Mokau, and with which considerable difficulty has been experienced in getting them conveyed to the various sites. The engineer has also been hampered by not being able to secure extra men to cope with the flood damage. He emphasises the opinion that to a competent driver there is nothing dangerous in the present eondition of the road." The Hood damages of July and November of last year to roads, culverts and bridges, and Mokau and Wanganui rivers, in the Taumarunui electorate \\|ould run into £10,00(1. There were three fatal accidents to residents owing to the roads 'being washed out, and two men were drowned owing to temporary bridges being washed away. The Minister for Public Works, writing under date February 10. to the member, says:—''Yours of the 11th inst. received. There is a vote of £4OOO on the Estimates for the road between Waitara and Mokau. Of this, £OSOO lias been authorised, and I authorised the remaining £,">oo to be expended by the PiCsident Kngineer about a week ago. I regret I cannot do any more at the present time."