NEW STOCK ROUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 8

NEW STOCK ROUTE.

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE. ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS. The urgent need for. a stock route between the Waikato and the stock markets at Westfield was stressed at a conference held at Papakura. Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P., was responsible for the meeting, and it was attended by representatives from the Franklin and Manukau County Councils, the Papakura and Manurewa Town Boards. There were also present Messrs. M. H. Wynyard (Main Highways Board), S. A. Grayson (Automobile Association), and F. S. Dyson (Public Works engineer). Mr. H. E. McEntee, chairman of the Papakura Town Board, presided. Mr. Massey gave an outline of two proposals by the Franklin County Council, while Mr. J. F. McArthur produced a plan showing the two routes. The first one was to lay out a route commencing at the southern boundary of the county at Mangatawhiri and go through the Mangatawhiri Valley past Mr. R. H. MeKenzie's property into Happy Valley, then through Hunua, coming out to the Manukau County's boundary near Clevedon. This was a length of about 19 miles. This would serve both the Waikato and Hauraki Plains. The other route would go up the old Razorback to Bombay, down to Opaheke and over Red Hill down to Opaheke and then over Red Hill to the Manukau County boundary. Mr. Dyson thought a rout* was wanted, but the Public Works Department would go further back and have a route nearly 70 miles long. This would commence at Tauhei and go to Mangatawhiri Valley, via Waerenga, and then into Brookby, reaching the Great South Road at the Tamaki Bridge. The ques- . tion of another bridge over the Tamaki would have to be discussed at a later date. Mr. F M. Waters, chairman of the Manukau County Council, said his county was already carrying a big burden. The proposed bridge would cost about £24.000 and unless there was some sound scheme to share the costs, his county would not look favourably on any scheme. Messrs. W. T. Cox (MamireWa Town Board), McEntee and Wynyard also spoke in favour of a new route. It was decided to appoint a committee consisting of the chairmen of the local bodies reorescntfd to prepare a report for a later meeting.