SETTLERS' NEEDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 4

SETTLERS' NEEDS.

FRANKLIN COUNTY COUNCIL. PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER'S VISIT. Numerous deputations were received by the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, yesterday, when he concluded a two days' tour of the Franklin County. After leaving Waiuku, the Minister inspected the Eastern Drain Road, Aka Aka, which settlers desire to see reopened, and the party then visited the Puni Soldiers' Settlement Road, which the Minister agreed should be subsidised at the rate of £2 for fl. The cost of the work has been estimated at £1800, of which settlers propose to raise £400 and the County Council £200. out of rates. Swamp country bordering the Waikato River, at the end of Parker's Lane,' Buckland, was next visited, the Minister inspecting the land which was damaged by prolonged floods last year. The desirability of erecting stop-banks to prevent a recurrence of the flooding was pointed out. Hunua was visited in the afternoon, 45 settlers meeting the Minister in the local hall. Work done by relief workers in widening the acccss road through the Hunua Gorge was praised by the settlers. Settlers asked that assistance be given in metalling the road into Moumoukai Valley, for a grant of £330 for completing the formation on the north end of the Moumoukai Valley Road, and that the forming of the Happy Valley-Mangatawhiri Road be continued by relief workers. They also sought a subsidy for the proposed loan for metalling the ArarimuPaparimu Road, and grants for metalling several side roads. The Minister pointed out that particulars of the various proposed works and the estimated cost had yet to be supplied. He agreed, however, that relief workers would be stationed in the- Hunua Gorge to clear slips. The Minister undertook to bring under the notice of the Postmaster-General the fact that the size of the Hunua Post Office was inadequate for the volume of business, and to refer to the Minister of Lands the question of opening up a block of 6000 acre 3 of idle Crown land.