WOODLANDS ROAD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4311, 31 July 1950, Page 9

WOODLANDS ROAD

FARMERS MAKE REQUEST WILLING TO PAY MORE COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION The state of Woodlands road again caused discussion at the last meeting of the Waihi District County Ratepayers’ Association and at the July meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council a letter was read from the association. k

The letter stated that the setters on Woodlands road realised that the rates collected were insufficient to put the road in good condition. They, therefore, were filling and anxious that a loan hd raised for the purpose of doing the work’in a proper manner and they were prepared to make their area responsible for the loan. /

The'association therefore requested that estimates be prepared of the cost and the necessary steps be taken so that the raising of a loan could be proceeded with. *

The letter concluded with a further request that fanners should be permitted to procure metal during the winter from the Waihi quarry of the county. '

There were three or four Crown sections in the area and presumably no rates would be received from these sections, said the county clerk, Mr A. A. Jenkinson.

“It is too great a liability for them,” said Mr T. A. Barrett, chairman of the council. “It would never pass the Loans Board?’

Doubts were expressed by the county Engineer, Mr L. E. Shaw, as to whether several of the eight settlers in the area would agree to rate themselves as their residences were at the beginning of the road in question and they/ had good access. The engineer detailed to the councillors the various items of work and cost necessary to out the work of reconditioning the whole road and the items totalled £4490. The cost of a survey would be heavy and the Loans Board wotild require a full surThe council had iid staff /o carry odt the survey. .

In order to give (relief, however, to settlers on that road the -engineer thought that the council • later ion could, at a cost of about one quarter of the £4490, give a reasonable road.

The county clerk informed councillors that ohe settler had intimated that he 1 was prepared to pay an increase of £4O a year in rates. A suggestion that a free grant be applied for was made by Mr Jenkinson. If a£3to £1 subsidy was granted and the settlers then made a contribution the council could also assist.

The association should approach the Minister, if necessary, through the council, stated the engineer.' A conference with’ the settlers should be arranged so that the matter could be fully discussed, said Mr Jenkinson. The council resolved that a meeting be arranged at an early date. The clerk pointed out that on the road in question were eight settlers and four Crown properties.' The net rates collected were £6O per annum. A loan of £4OOO would require a payment of £2&O plus 10 per cent making a total charge of £3OB each year and that would required to be found by the eight settlers. Metal to Farmers Over 190 yards of metal had been supplied to farmers from the Waihi quarry, stated the engineer. Only a certain class of metal was suitable for concrete work and metal for concrete was supplied without refusal to ratepayers wfcerenever the suitable metal was available, added the engineer. The meeting resolved that the association be informed that whenever possible metal for concrete had been supplied last month to .farmers and would continue to be made available.