THE OMOANA CLOUDBURST.
THE SETTLERS’ POSITION. ELTHAM COUNCIL’S HELP. A letter from the Minister of Lands was read at Saturday’s meeting of the Eltham County Council in reference to the position of the settlers in the Omoana district as a result of the recent cloud-burst. “I have to inform you,” the Minister stated, “that I have made enquiries into the matter and find that the settlers need consideration owing to the special circumstances of their case. If, thereforej they will individually apply to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for postponement of rent, or such other relief as they need, then* applications will be placed before the Land Board, and I shall be pleased to give sympathetic consideration to the board’s recommendations.” A petition, signed by twelve settlers in the Moeroa district, was read, asking the council to assist them in getting a -fair deal” in regard to the expenditure of flood damage grants from the Government. The method of expenditure was stated as unsatisfactory, and that : work from the Omoana post office to the Whenuakura bridge had ceased, the men being put on the Eltham side of the Omoana hill, where the road was passable for motor lorries. Moreover, i.t was understood that contracts ha>d been let on the Matiwhetu Road (or a councillor’s road), whilst nothing had been done for the main roads past Moeroa, where good men were waiting for the job. The petitioners asked that the matter be given immediate attention, as it- was imperative that they should get their wool out in time for the next sale.
Ci’. McWilliam said the Crown Lands’ ranger had inspected the locality, and agreed that the position was serious. The ranger did not think the lightening of Crown rents would be of much assistance, and a remission of rents for (say) two years was suggested. In regard to the repairing of the flood damage, the engineer said the main road was the most important, as it was an arterial road, and this had been concentrated upon. If they had done a little work all over the area the settlers would still have been isolated. The next thing was to make horse tracks to all the settlers, and this work was proceeding. About a month ago the position looked serious. Men had been taken off the road beyond Omoana and put on on the Eltham side to make safe the work already done. The particular road the settlers complained of in their petition was now open, although it would not stand heavy traffic. The Stratford Public Works engineer was spending a grant of £3OOO. about £4OO being already spent. The total assistance received from the Government was a free grant of £l5OO, and £lOOO on a £1 for £1 basis. To date the Eltham County was out of pocket to the extent of about £l6O on flood damage repair expenditure. The costs of clearing the roads was estimated gt over £6OOO. Or. McWilliam said it was for the council to say whether the settlers’ petition put forward a real grievance or not.
The chairman said the council was doing all it could do, and unless more money was forthcoming they would be unable to do anything more. It was decided to inform the petitioners that the cooncil was already doing all possible under the circumstances, and approved the engineer’s policy regarding repair work.
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Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1922, Page 2
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562THE OMOANA CLOUDBURST. Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1922, Page 2
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