THE WAIHI TAURANGA DISPUTE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 14, 17 January 1905, Page 2

THE WAIHI TAURANGA DISPUTE

(By TelCfraph.—Owa C»rreßpoa«eet.) WAIHI. this day. The commission* to settle the claims made by the Tauranga County Council against the Waihi Borough Council as to what proportion, if any, the Waibi borough should contribute towards the maintenance of Bowentown, Katikati, and Waihi »-_ain roads, was open this morning -»t the " courthouse before Mr. W. Short, the commissioner appointed by the Government. Mr. Martin, solicitor, of Auckland, and Mr. Jackson, of Waihi, appeared on behalf of the Waihi Borough Council, and Mr. Mueller, of Messrs. Mueller and Porritt, represented the Tauranga County Council. There are large numbers of witnesses on both sides. Since the institution of the Waihi borough this is tlie first case heard to divert a portion of the gold revenue from Waihi, and is attracting much interest throughout the district. Mr. Davidson, chairman of the Tauranga County Council. Mr. Yesey Stewart, chairman of the Katikati Road Board, and Mr. Gilmour (Mayor), Mr. McAr-* thur (engineer), and Mr. Morpeth (town clerk), of the Waihi Borough Council, were present in the court. Mr. Mueller, in reply to the commissioner, stated that the Tauranga Council claimed that Waihi should pay twothirds or three-quarters of the cost of maintenance, alao a sum of £500 for past expenses on the road. In opening the case Mr. Mueller said a sum o! £ 5380 had been expended .in eight years on the road in question by the Tauranga County, or £673 per annum. The road was now in a bad state, and needed some £2000 per annum for maintenance. Mr. Mueller then detailed at length the amount of traffic on the road, the haulage, etc.. from the mines and the borough generally, and the importance of Bowentown as a port to Waihi The passenger traffic to the beach -was also very great. A large amount of butter, eggs, etc., was constantly coming to Waihi from Katikati. Mr. Davidsorr, chairman of th«_;Tauratiga County Council/the'first witness called by Mr. Mueller, gave evidence as to the traffic on various parts of the road. Government grants for maintenance, etc. Some £500 were immediately necessary to repair the road. Fully three-quarters of the cost of the maintenance was expended upon tho road from Bowentown to Ohinemuri county boundary, or £200 prr annum for the past eight years. The annual revenue of the county did not exceed £2000. Most, of the Bowentown-Waihi traffic chiefly benefited Waihi. The witness was cross-examined at length by Mr. Martin. He admitted that Waihi had furnished the most profitable market for Katikati during the past. Sir. Jordan, surveyor aud engineer, supervisor for the Government grants, examined by Mr. Porritt. said that the greatest expenditure was en the portion of the road from Athenree to the county boundary, and comparatively little from Athenree to Katikati, or Bo.wentown. It would take £ 1500 to put the Bowen-town-Waihi portion in repair, and £300 per annum afterwards. Tauranga county derived no benefit whatever from the Athcnree-Bowentown road. Mr. Griffiths, county clerk, and Mr. Boyd, road overseer, gave evidence i?* to the cost of road maintenance, traific, etc. (Proceeding.)