Dedication of Road Refused

Franklin Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 45, 26 April 1939, Page 5

Dedication of Road Refused

PROPERTY AT ORUA BAY COUNTY COUNCIL’S DECISION WATER ACCESS SUFFICIENT “The Public Works Act states that land cannot be subdivided without proper access. However, this does not apply if reasonable access is offered by water,” stated the clerk, Mr Alan P. Day, at the Franklin County Council’s monthly meeting on Monday, when a communication was received from Mr R. D. Makgill, Orua Bay, asking that an inspection be made of his Orua Bay sub-division and beach road frontage, with a view to the dedication of the road. The engineer, Mr A. C. Bettany, said that the position was such that the proposed road would be subject to erosion. Mr H. P. Garland said that' a similar request had been turned down 10 years ago by the council. The road ran right along the foreshore, and if dedicated by the council, would have to be maintained, and would pronably incur fairly heavy expenditure. Mr J. Matheson: Will the question of a road arise again in the future? People may buy sections under the impression that the council will dedicate the road. On the motion of the chairman (Mr J. N. Massey, M.P.), it was to reply stating that the “council was not prepared to dedicate the road, as it considered that adequate access was obtainable by the sea."

WHARF ROAD BLOCKED INCONVENIENCE TO SETTLERS Mr Makgill wrote further draw;tag the council’s attention to a slip on the road leading to the Orua Bay wharf, and urging that same be cleared to allow goods to be carted from the whai’f. “You can’t get within 200 yards of the wharf, and the settlers have to dinghy their goods from the wharf to the beach,” he said. “When this was brought before the notice of the county men" they blew down some more of the cliff, which made matters worse, and then went away, taking their graders with them.” Mr Makgill was supported by Mr E. V. Sutherland, Onehunga member of the Auckland -Harbour Board.

The engineer said that the graderdrivers working in the district had received instructions to remove the slip. How-evei', the men had inspected the site and found it to be unsafe. He had then advised them to leave the slip until the overhanging portion of the cliff consolidated, or fell down. Mr M. J. Hutton said that, in any case, the wharf was very little used. It was decided to reply according to the engineer’s advice.