GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES FOR IMPROVING TAURANGAWAIHI MAIN ROAD.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XVII, Issue 7150, 9 April 1919, Page 3

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES FOR IMPROVING TAURANGAWAIHI MAIN ROAD.

Substantial Expenditure This

Year.

A com'nuuioation was read at the mef'ting uf the (jounty Cnuucil on Friday last from Mr* W. S. Short, Under.Seccetary of the Public Works Department, Wellington, in reference to metalling work on the TaurangaWaihi maiu road, The letter stated inter alia : " The resident road engineer reports that the Council expects to expend £2,370 on metalling this year, as follows, and that, the plans and specifications submitted to him for the work are satisfactory :

Between 3m acd 4m (Wairoa) 1044: Between 6m and 16m 920 Near Wainui Bridge -iOG ' £2370 %i The metalling betweeu the om and 4m pegs is covered by the item of £S'JO (£1 for £1) on the appropriations for the Waimapu roads and an authority for £552 (£l for £i), which is half the estimated cost, is being issued as a charge against that item. | An authority for £(513 (£1 for £1) is j also being issued for the other two j sections of metalling as a charge I against the item of £1000 (£1 fcr £[) appearing on the appropriations for Tauranga-Waihi Road itself. A sub. sidy will be paid immediately on the work completed to date if you will ; render a formal claim to the resident > road engiueer.

>; The Minister also uuderstauds that your Council has considerable su'iis of money available for the metalling of this road, and he is propared to" issue a further £1,000 ,£1 for£l), when the authorities which are now being issued are exhausted, but, further plans, specifications and estimates of cost must, of course, be Submitted to aud approved by the Vesiieut road engineer Jbefore any work in excess of £2,370 is % commenced. " Mr G\ Vesey Stewart wrote to the Minister in January last enquiring whether a subsidy of £500 (£1 for £1), which he stated was promised iu tho' year 1916 for regrading andcuetailing between Waihi and Kati kafci was still available. The exact amount which the Minister promised at that time was £305 (£l [or £1), and an authority for that sum will be authorised directly satisfactory proposals have been submitted to the resident road engineer.

''The Minister has given careful consideration to the application by your Council for a subsidy on the sura of £-150 expended on openiug a rae*al quarry at Te Puna. Local bodies are usually satisfied with re. Cfiivioy £1 for £1 subsidies for metalline; of roads, and as the Minister is treating your Council liberally iu connection" with the metalling ol this road, he regrets that he is unable to bear'any portion of the expenditure on the quarry/' The Chairman moved—That the question of replying be left in the hands of the supervisor and mover. — Seconded bv Cr Vercoe and carried.

.A letter was also read from Hon. W. H. Merries to Cr Stewart, acknowledaing the receipt of letter of March 7, enclosing copy of a resolution passed by the Council urging that application be made to the Tieasury for payment of the £500 grant for deviation roads on- the Waibi-Kati-feati arterial main road, and revesting Mr Herries" support in connection with the Councils application to borrow £5,000 from the State Advances r>n?cc to complete metalling on the Waihi.Katikati main road. Mr Herries stated he is communicating with the Acting-Minister of Finance about these matters.

It was decided to communicate with Hon D. H. Guthrie requestiug that the grant of £500 be made available for expenditure. Or Stewart said the £500 promised to him was from the Consolidated Fund and was assured.

Mr W, O. Lockingron, Katikati, wrote intimating that he would be prepared to put through the Hillside deviation contract, for which tenders were called some time ago. He could meet the engiueer and give a fair estimate.

Mr Gray reported that he had an otier from auother man to do work.

O Hume said that a man with six horses was now available for work, and l-.e strongly urged that improvements should be eftected from Aongatete to Tabawai.

The Council agreed that tenders be esllfid for the work.

Sir'W. Frnser, Minister of Public Works, wrote acknowledging peceipt of letter forwarding a resolution iu regard to the state "of portion of the main road from Katikati to Waikino, over the Waihi Plains to the boundary of 'ihc Ohiueinuri County. The Minister advised that he is obtaining a report uu the matter, as requested.