ROAD TO HIKUAI

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3282, 30 June 1943, Page 7

ROAD TO HIKUAI

LINK WITH KAUAERANGA PENINSULA’S EAST COAST INTEREST SHOWN IN THAMES Many attempts have been made at different times to try and induce the Governments in office at the time to extend the present Kauaerang'a road over the. hill to link up with the Hikuai-Tairua road, on the east coast of the peninsula. This would shorten the distance between that district and Thames by at least 40 miles, which now has to be traversed along a tortuous road through Waihi. A special meeting of the Thames Chamber of Commerce was held on Thursday night, Mr B. D. S. Chapman, president, presiding over Messrs J. Galloway, J. Currie, E. Whitehedd, N. Jonassen, J. H. Ensor, C. Hudson and H. Gallop (secretary). Apologies were received from Messrs A. Danby, J. W. Arbury, H. Murray and W. Bongard. Kauaeranga-Hikuai Track

For some time an effort has been made by Mr A. G. T. Bryan and the members of the chamber to arouse the interests of settlers in the Hikuai, Tairua and Whangamata districts and Thames businessmen in the opening of the Kauaeranga-Hikuai track as a stock route in order to allow stock to reach the nearest sale at Kopu. Recently several members of the chamber made a tour of inspection of the track, and although the trip proved rather unfortunate for some of the party through being caught in the dark on the return journey, it was agreed that the formation of an easy graded motor road over the hill was possible and presented no great engineering difficulties. Since the said meeting with the settlers on the other side of the ridge, much interest has been taken by them in the project, and it is now learned that they are whole-heartedly supporting the effort being made to open up the route. The distance from the junction of the Kauaeranga road to the Hikuai track was 1 only a matter of a little over eight miles, and by using modern machinery a motor road could be constructed at a very reasonable cost.

At the special meeting of the council last night Mr Chapman explained that he and Mr Bryan had waited upon Mr Thorn on the matter of opening up the Kauaeranga-Hikuai track, and it was noticeable that Mr Thorn was keenly interested in the proposal. The settlers on the other coast were 100 per cent, behind any effort to open up the track and so give them better access to Thames. Thanks From Settlers

The president then read a letter from L. R. Bridge, secretary to the meeting of settlers, which read as follows:— ' “I have been instructed to ask you to convey to the members of your Chamber of Commerce the sincere thanks of the settlers of Whenuakite, Tairua and Hikuai, for the helpful efforts and support they have given our districts in furthering . the opening-up of the Kauaeranga road. Please express special thanks to the pioneers who displayed courageous spirit by riding over the track, and our hope that a motor road will soon go through.” Financial Assistance Promised The president said, that in addition to the financial assistance from the settlers in the Tairua and Hikuai districts, financial assistance had been promised from Thames, and as the opening of the track would assist the business people of this town it was thought they would also give the scheme their support. Mr Chapman then asked Mr Bryan to inform the meeting of the progress made since the scheme was started. . Mr Bryan said he was pleased to report renewed interest in the project among settlers in the TairuaHikuai and Whenuakite districts. A petition now reaching completion in signatures indicated that the settlers were 100 per cent, in favour of the route. Access To Hospital It was considered that with little effort, there were 5000 acres of good land that could be made into productive farms and provide occupation for at least 50 new settlers. To put the scheme through it required a sound financial backing, and as money is a little more plentiful just now it was the time to get behind the scheme and push it for all it was worth. The district that would be affected had the soil and. a good rainfall, and the route, when opened up, would give the settlers over there good access to their nearest town and trading centre. Mr Jonassen said it always struck him as peculiar that, with the mam I hospital at Thames and the town be- | ing the chief business centre of the : Pm’nsuia, no effort had been made to

give those settlers on the eastern side of the range a better outlet. The president stated that if some financial assistance was forthcoming, the Government would view the project in a better light. But it would have to be an individual effort. Mr Jonassen considered that the chamber was supposed to have the interests of the town at heart and it should donate as much as possible. Mr Bryant said it was a district effort and all the people in the district should be asked to contribute to the best- of their ability. “We must look at it from a wide viewpoint,” added Mr Bryan. Increase In Rates Mr J. Galloway thought the chamber should wait upon the Thames County Council and obtain its assistance. “It would mean a great increase in rates if the country over there was opened up and settled,” said the speaker. After further discussion, Mr Jonas-

sen moved and. Mr Ensor seconded, that the Chamber support the scheme of opening up the Kauaeranga-Hikuai road, and pledges itself to do everything possible to further the scheme. This was carried. A further resolution, moved by the president and seconded by Mr Whitehead, that the president, vice-presi-dent and Mr Bryan be a committee to make a personal canvas of the ness community to ascertain what amount can be guai’anteed, in addition to that already promised, And that the same committee be the deputation to wait upon the Thames County Council at its next meeting to obtain that body’s assistance, was carried.

MEETING OF SETTLERS ELECTION OF A COMMITTEE ■ A large and representative meeting of settlers from Whenuakite 1 , Tairua and Hikuai ibet in the Hikuai Hall recently to elect a committee to represent. the interests of the settlers in the opening of the Hikuai-Kauae-ranga road. It was reported to the meeting that the forming of a road of eight to ten miles in length is needed to link Hikuai with the Kauaeranga road. About 3g miles of the existing Hikuai road were also in need of repairs. If the road was opened it would bring the Hikuai Post Office within 25 mixes of Thames.

Addresses were given by Messrs James Hamilton and H. Cory-Wright, both of whom detailed the efforts of the settlers to get outlet roads to serve the isolated districts of the peninsula. Both spoke of the advantages that the opening of the Kauaeranga road would bring to the Tairua riding. Mr Bert Hamilton stressed the importance of the road in the openingup of the large tract of undeveloped farming land for soldier settlement in the upper Tairua Valley. The meeting unanimously decided that the road was an absolute necessity to the district, and the following committee was selected, to negotiate for its early opening:—Mr Bert Hamilton (chairman), Mrs S. W. Bridges (secretary), Messrs D. . Hamilton (Hikuai), H. Cory-wright, F. Hazeldine and J. McCall (Tairua) and W. Hamilton (Whenuakite).