THE KAIWHATA ROAD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4364, 10 March 1893, Page 3

THE KAIWHATA ROAD.

The Karak Bay Route to be Taken. At the meeting of the Wairarapa North County Council yesterday alternoon, the Kaiwhata road again came under di<oussion; Mr H. Nitz, one of the settlers most interested, being present. Mr G. Bummer, in reply to a request that he would express his opinion bb to which would be the most beneficial route for settlors on the Kaiwhata, stated that he was certainly in favour of a road to tho shipping place at Karaka'Bay, For twentyeight yearaho had been undoranobligation to his neighbours by passiug over their property, a circumstanco which tended to lower the value of his property Bhould ho feel inclined to sell, as buyors would not care to buy a place from which produce could only be exported by permission of a neighbour for a term of ten years, Tho idea that the time was not far distant when all wool would bo carried inland, waß misleading; and he (Mr Hummer) hoped it would not influence the Council in dealing with the matter. The price per bale of wool by steamer to Wellington was 7s, and the oarting and shipping was done by settlers themselves. Prom Cooper's to Carterton, via the Gladstone road, cost 6s per bale, and if tho road from Kaiwhata to Cooper's were formed there would be at least double that amount to pay for cartage, The idea of cart, ing over Homewood was preposterous In conclusion, Mr Kummer said ho hoped that justice would be done the settlers, and that they would not be deprived of the right to enjoy the sea beach whenever inclined. Mr H. Nitz wrote, expressing bis astonishment at Mr Tatham's calculation of the probable freight of wool by the inland route, But even granting Mr Tatham to be right he (Mr Nitz) would have to pay another 8s per bale from bis place, bringing it up to 15s. A road from Kutnmerstein to Homewood would be an expensive work, probably costing £1,600. The charges on a bale of wool from Kaiwhata to Wellington via Gladstono and Carterton would probably be 17s against 7s by sea' The road to the shipping place had been in use for the past twenty years and in the writers opinion it was not a question of further use, but of legalising tho road so that improvements could be made. This grievance had been before tbo Council for two years and the settlers now confidently hoped that the request would bo granted. Mr Nitz was of opinion that with tho Government grant and bis thirds, a fairly good road could be constructed right down to the sea, Messrs W. L, Adams and A. F Pliillipson wrote stating they were not in favour of tho road being made to Karaka Bay, bat would like to get the Whareama road connected with the Gladstone road. ' The Chairman said that from the opinions now before the Council, the settlers seemed strongly in favour of shipping at Karaka Bay.but it did not seem to havobeen considered by them, that it was necessary to got to their residences by a good road from the main road to Hojmwood. If the settlers wero prepared to raise a loan to take a road to Karaka Bay they could do so, but the Council had not the funds to do it. Tboy would also have to take the land under the Publio Act. He should have

iked to have seen tho Coast roads oonnectod, but the settlers with tho largest interests appeared to think otherwise, and they had to be considered, Mr JNitz was in attendance and explained that Karalta Bay was a much bettor shipping port than Uriti. Ho had recently shipped one hundred bales of wool in six hours with three mon. Or Groves said h 9 thought MrNitz was of opinion that the road could bo taken without compensation, This was erroneous. The Chairman spoko at length on the folly of allowing the grants to mature before roads were legalised, It would bo necessary lo ascertain the cost of making the road before anything could bo done, It was the duty of the Council to consider tho wish of tho settlers, and let ttiera know tho responsibilities incurred, Ho did not think this was tho only road they required, A connection with the Coast road would become necessary. Or Smith endorsed remarks of tho Chairman, He thought that as the settlers in the Kaiwhata had to find the money they therefore had ut right to bo considered. The land in some parts was, howover, very poor and he did not think the settlers could bear the burden of a heavy rate,

Or Maunsoll said the willingness shown by Messrs Tatham and Hales to allow persons to cross their land might be taken advantage of by giva peppercorn rental for a term of years, instead of going to the expense of taking land uuder tho Public Works Act. In time freight was sure to bo reduced by the inland route, Cr Groves said that unless Messrs Nitz and Kuinmer and others woro prepared to find the costs of the preliminary work they could do nothing.

Or Guild said that tho settlers had been asking for the road to be legalised for tho last two years. Ths Government had signified" its intention of assisting with £230, and the Council should therefore assist and not raise obstructions, The dilferonco in the cost of carrying wool from Kaiwhata to Wellington by sea was very considerable.

The Chairman said thoy hud the opinion of four settlers boloro them. What they would have to do would be to ascertain the amount required for compensation, and ascertain tho feeling regarding the raising of a loan. Mr Nitz said they required a logal road to the Bay. After considerable discussion it was decided to take steps to legalise a road to Karaka Bay.