RIVAL ROUTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1921, Page 7

RIVAL ROUTES.

FROM OHURA TO WAITARA. CLIFTON COUNTY APPROACHED. The claims of rival routes from the Ohura to Waitara were before the Clifton County Council yesterday, when a letter was received from the Waitara Chamber of Commerce enclosing a resolution asking the Clifton County Council to endeavor to get a sum placed on the estitmates for the purpose of completing the unfinished portion of Moki Road. Mr. William G. Whittam, of Waitaanga, Ohura, who signed himself as one of the original settlers, wrote that at its last meeting the council had passed a resolution supporting the Tahora settlers in their efforts to get the unformed portion of the Moki Road finished. On behalf of the settlers on the Tongaporutu-Mangaroa Road he protested, on the grounds that some years ago a schedule of roads was drawn up showing four roads connecting Taranaki and Auckland provinces, and it was decided to open them up according to their importance as follow: (1) Main North Road, via Awakino; (2) East Road, from Stratford; (3) Tongaporutu-Man-garoa, via Okau; (4) Moki Road. The first two having been opened up, he considered that it was now the turn of No. 3, and until it was widened the whole distance, Moki Road must wait. There was a gap of about three miles, which was only 3ft. to Oft. wide, bo that it was impossible for vehicles to be driven through from Ohura to New Plymouth, a distance of 77 miles. If that gap were finished it would open up the shortest road between those places, and it would be a good stock route to the freezing works. For two years past there had been a vote on the estimates for part of the work, but owing to the scarcity of labor it could not be spent, and this year, when there was a chance of labor being obtained, the department withdrew the authority, and no work was done. It was sixteen years since the block was opened, and they were promised wide roads within five years, and yet they had not got them. If the council wanted to use its influence in getting any road widened, it could well use it on behalf of the TongaporutuMangaroa Road, which was fully entitled to all it could get, and the road would be a distinct benefit to the whole province. The chairman could not see that the council had done anything wrong in supporting the Moki Road. It was their duty to assist any road, and they were not pledged to any particular road. Cr. Jones said he was prepared to support both roads. Both would make good stock roads, and it was doubtful which would be the better, as though the Tongaporutu-Mangaroa road was five miles shorter, it entailed driving the cattle over Mt. Messenger. He favored applying for a grant for both, and asking that the £6OO granted to the Tongaporutu-Mangaroa road should be reinstated. The chairman said he did not think there was much chance of getting a grant for either road in the present stringent financial position. On the motion of the chairman and Cr. Sutton, it was resolved to write to the member asking him to urge on the Government to complete the Moki and Tongaporutu-Mangaroa roads. It was also decided to ask that the £6OO grant placed on the estimates last year to further the work on the TongaporutuMangaroa road should be replaced now that labor was available.