IN BAD CONDITION

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 166, 10 April 1926, Page 24

IN BAD CONDITION

HAWTREY ESTATE ROADS NGAHAURANGA GORGE LOAN WORK AT HOME THE FIRST CONSIDERATION That the residents of the Hawtrey Estate, near Johnsonville, will not support the Ngahauranga Gorge loan proposals unless they get some improvements effected to the roads in their district was made apparent at yesterday’s meeting of the Makara Countv Council, when, in addition to a petition from residents, their claims were voiced by a representative from the district. The petition, which was signed by Mr. F. Douglas and twenty other residents of the Hawtrey Estate and ratepayers to the Makara County Council, protested against the raising of the proposed loan of £12,000 for the improvements of the Ngahauranga Gorge road, while the condition of the local roads was so disgraceful. The document added: “These roads require widening and metalling, and footpaths are required, or, failing that, then rolling is required We also desire to direct attention to the dangerous corners, the deep cart ruts, and the regrading requirements.” < Mr. J. H. H. Fraape, of Hawtrey, near Johnsonville, said that he had been requested by the petitioners to wait upon tire council. The roads in the Hawtrey Estate, he said, were in a dangerous and disgraceful condition. The chairman (Mr E. Windley) : What way do vou mean, disgraceful ? Mr Fraape 'stated that there were great ruts in the roads, they were only nine feet in width and were badly lighted. He instanced bow women folk with perambulators had had to .seek refuge in a bush of gorse to prevent being run over The ratepayers had .been waiting patiently tor seven years for improvements, and they thought it was high time the roads received a little attention. During the past eight years he had been conversant with the several roads in the district, and only once had he seen a roadman at work there. If the roads were put into proper condition the ratepayers would support the council loan proposals, other- ' wise The chairman: Yes, that Is your point of view. Mr. Fraape (anxious to get down to business) : When will you make a start on these roads? If we can’t get our roads fixed up we are going to canvass the whole of the distr't to see if something can’t be done. Mr. Windley: It is a case of taking drastic action ? Mr. Fraape: “Yes, that’s it.’ Tn reply to Mr Windley the speaker said that Ohariu Road, Hawtrey Terrace, Drake Street, Clifford Road, Wakefield Road, Halswell Road, and Bassett Road were all in a bad condition. Mr. Windlev stated that he took exception to the report which appeared in Tin: Dominion on Saturday last Mr. Fraape had been responsible for that statement being published, and the speaker thought that he would have been better advised to have consulted the council first. In matters of this kind it was usual to approach the council before ventilating grievances through the Press. No doubt the ratepayers had thought that their action would awaken the council to the claims of the Hawtrey people. Condition of Roads Defended. Continuing, Mr. Windley said that he had been over the roads mentioned, and, with the exception of Ohanu Road, the roads were in fair condition, having regard to the fact that ratepayers in the Hawtrev Estate paid ven little in rates. There were onlv sixtythree ratepayers. and the rates collectable amounted to onlv £lB6. Those outstanding at March 31, 1926, amounted to £4O, leaving a balance of onlv £146. The distribution of rates was as follows Hospital contribution, £34; Hutt road maintenance, £3; general expenditure, £45; road maintenance, including main road, £B2; bridge loan, £3; machinery loan, £9 10s.; Hutt road interest, £9 10s. Total, £lB6. Ihe total number of chains of road was 249. t The council was not responsible for the present width of the roads, continued Mr. Windley, and as regards Mr. Fraape’s complaint concerning gorse bushes, tlie ratepayers must help themselves. The onus was on residents to clear all gorse away from their properties and from the adjoining roads. In some cases the council'had granted requests for the fences to be set out a small distance to permit of additional grazing property being available to the owners. Now that the gorse had spread the council could not be blamed. He admitted that Ohariu road was in need of repairs, but Mr. Fraape had given the impression that the whole of the roads in the Hawtrey Estate were in a disgraceful condition, and Mr. Windley maintained that thev were not so. If residents wanted 'a footpath they would have to foot the bill. Mr. Fraape rose to speak. Mr. Windley: Just a moment. You can have a go later. The speaker emphasised the fact that if residents desired extensive reading and paving ' improvements they must be prepared to bear a large proportion of the rates. The Ngahauranga Gorge Loan. Continuing, Mr. Windley said that if residents of Hawtrey had any real grievance the council would be glad to meet them and go into matters. With regard to the Ngahauranga Gorge loan it was probably natural that residents of the district in question wanted something done at home first. If residents took any exception to the loan, the speaker said he would like to have an opportunity of meeting them to discuss the matter.

Mr Fraape interposed that a meeting would be held shortly and the ratepayers would be glad to have the chairman and some of the councillors present. Mr. Fraape, in reply to Mr. Windley’s contradiction of the former’s statement regarding the bad condition of the roads, said that he would affirm what he had said The roads were in a deplorable state The residents were prepared to nav for decent roads and footpaths if they got them. Proper roads would enable property owners to sell their hoi lings, which was impossible at the present time. “On several vou have to get into a gorse bush at the side of the road, go ovet the bank, or be run over,” added Mr. Fraape. Mr. Windley: You must admit that these roads were not built for motor traffic.

Mr. I'raape: They were built alxsut a hundred vears ago. Mr. Tindley ■ I am prepared to do what I can, and I am 0"t *o support this Ngahanranga Gorge loan Mr Fr a; ,p e: So are. >.e, if wt car w»t

our own roads done. We have not even a roller. ~ Councillor L. Nairn: A roller would smash the culverts. Mr. Fraape: There are no culverts to be smashed. Did Not Attend Meetings. Councillor S. Styles asked why residents of Hawtrey had not attended meetings held in that district by the council for the benefit of ratepayers. Mr. Fraape: We never knew when they were being held. Councillor Styles objected to an assertion that the Newlands and Paparanga roads were not in good condition He desired to deny that allegaThe roads were in quite good ° r jlr.' Fraape said that he had only been advised of the condition of roads at Newlands. Mr. Windley at this stage suggested that the council had heard just about enough regarding roads in the Hawtrey Estate, and he would endeavour to bring about an improvement next week. Councillor Styles thought it would be desirable to pledge Mr. Fraape to support the loan. Mr. Fraape: If you do something to our roads we will support your loan. With these final words Mr. Fraape departed, leaving the council to ponder over the compromise put forward.