RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 294, 28 May 1898, Page 2

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL.

The quarterly meeting of this Council was held at the Council Chambers, Raglan, on Thursday afternoon, May 26th. Present: Crs. McGuirk, who in the absence of the Chairman occupied the chair, Whiteside,Lawry, Bruce, Hewett Bankart and Smith. New Member.—Cr. Smith received the congratulations of the Chairman and Councillors on taking his seat after his recent election for the Karioi Riding. v

Deputations. The Chairman informed the Council that a deputation was waiting to interview the Council re the deviation of the Raglan and Waipa Roads through private and Crown lands. A letter was read from Mr Dyer, of Hamilton, re deviation of same, and giving the result of an interview with the Premier at Hamilton. A letter was also read from Mr Daw, asking the Chairman to call a special meetiug to consider the subject. A letter was also read from Mr Vickerman, Government Surveyor, enclosing a sketch of the proposed deviation over the mountain between Waitetuna and Whatawhata. This showed that a gradient of one in twenty can be obtained over the saddle at the head of the branch of the Mangakirikiri stream, and fully one hundred feet lower than where the present road crosses the watershed saddle. This road could be reached from the Mangakihi Valley via Breckon's Gully, wh'ch will lessen the distance to Whatawhata about one and a-half mile. At least one of these deviations will be required to make a practicable road with good grade over the mountain, The making of this road would tend to the settlement of the lands in the Waitetuna and Raglan districts, the present road being a bar to the progress of the district, and that he had reported to the Department re this deviation. At this stage the deputation, consisting of a dozen or so of ratepayers from Waitetuna, Te Mata, Okete, Pakoka, Raglan, Waimai and Karioi, waited upon the Council At the request of the chairman, Mr Daw, on behalf of the deputation, stated the object of the deputation, which was in reference to a deviation being made on the main road between Waitetuna and Whatawhata, and to lay before them a proposal made by the Premier. Some short time since the Survey Office instructed Mr Vickerman to ascertain if it were possible to obtain a shorter road, with a good grade, between these two places without going over the mountain; also to report to them the grades on the present mountain road. After careful investigation he came to the conclusion that, without doubt, the shortest and best route lay through Breckon's section, and that by taking a ridge through the University Endowment property he was able to come out by Calder's at the Whatawhata Bridge. The saving in distance by the route would be three miles, with a good grade of one foot in twenty. He also reported that he found the grade on the present road very severe ; in one place it was one foot in five, in two places one in five and a-half, and in three other places one in seven. The proposed deviation would be a continuation of the present road, which leaves the main road at Mr Sutton's boundary, near Petty's, and crosses the Waitetuna river by one of the best bridges in the county. The country is open fern land for about one mile, then three miles through bush, and four miles of fern land to the Whatawhata Bridge. Mr Vickerman estimates the probable cost of this deviation at £1200. On Good Friday, the day after the deputation waited on the Premier at Hamilton in reference to this road, he had a long conversation with him, and the Premier authorised him to say that he would give on the Government's behalf £600 towards the cost of this road, and would lend the other £600 at five per cent., with sinking fund, whereby this £600 would be paid off in twenty - five years, and in the event of the road costing more than £1200, he would give £ for £ for every £ borrowed. The interest on the £600 borrowed would only be £30 per year, a burden so light as scarcely to be felt. The benefit obtained so great that it would be the means of re-galvanising the industries of this country, and once more setting Raglan on its legs..—Mr T. B. Hill gase a short history of the road and thought the Council should accept the offer, and Messrs Vernon Smith, Sutton and Pegler were of the same opinion.— Cr. McGuirk thought the Premier had made a good offer, if the ways and means of raising the £600 loan could be carried out. It would perhaps be of little advantage to Karamu settlers, but it would benefit the Karioi Riding and they should do their best to raise this loan, the interest payable being a mere nothing, and the money would be well spent. —Cr. Bankart said he was fully alive to the advantages of this proposal, but it was necessary to more fully consider the scheme in all its bearings. He thought perhaps it might require a little larger sum than that mentioned. Perhaps the Council might undertake it if the cost was proportioned in the same ratio as that in force for the present RaglanWaipa Road. The Chairman then intimated that the Council would consider the matter later on.—Before the deputation withdrew Mr Sutton thanked the Council for the kind way they had received and listened to the deputation. Ngaruawahia Bridge.—A letter was received from the Colonial Treasurer to the effect that £6OO had been placed in the Bank to credit of Ngaruawahia Bridge account. Tk>dkrs. •-- Mr Smith's tenders for cleaning the Whatawhata Bridge at £3 Pis per annum, and 2s per foot for planking, were accepted. Deviation, Pirongia Road. Mrs Campbell having conseuted to pay cost of surveying deviation of Pirongia road, it was resolved to proceed with the work. Section 76, Karioi.—lt was resolved to offer Mr R. G. La Trobe £15 in full discharge of all claims on this section. Tuakau Bridge.—A letter was read from the Minister of Public Works that this matter would be considered when preparing the estimates for the current year, and another froui Mr Lang, M.H.R., that since he had been in the House he had urged the Government to erect this bridge, aud would continue to do all in his power to that end. A letter was also read from Mr Massey, M.H.R., to the same effect.