King Country Chronicle Wednesday, November 19, 1913 TE KUMI-HANGATIKI ROAD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 620, 19 November 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, November 19, 1913 TE KUMI-HANGATIKI ROAD.

The deputation which waited on ibe j County Council at the last Council meeting for the purpose of urging the j construction of the road between Tel Kurni and Hangaiiki was well receiv- ) ed ; and an attempt is to be made by tin- ■ Council to give some relief to (hose by j whom the road is urgently required. | The County chairman, however, made j it plain that little could be done by she j Council with the funds which were available. It is the old story of native land taken up by European* without any definite provision he in;;- made for loading. The question is oul which will have to be faced sooner or later and any action which can bring the matter prominently before the authorities is welcome. In the case oi Ihe road in question, however, another highly important factor intrudes. The road up the Valley is portion of the Main Trunk road which extends from Auckland right through the district. In consequence of a road having been put, through the Mangaorino Valley for the purpose of opening up Crown lands a round about connection was afforded between Te Kuiti and Hangatiki. and the natural direct road along the valley was left merely as it was surveyed, Whatever justification there may have been in the past for holding up the completion of the road, the lime has certainly arrived when, in the interests of the district the work can be no longer delayed. It is unnecessary to recapitulate the arguments in favour of the road which nave apptareo from time to time in these columns. Ae. a section of the main arterial road of the province the construction of the road is undoubtedly a. national work, and the Government will only be acting up to its profession by taking Uie matter in hand. The local benefits which will accrue from the completion of the work will be considerable, while the benefit to the country at large will amply compensate the Government for the cost of construction. As was pointed out to tindeputation by the County chairman, application hao been made for a grant for the work, and hopes are entetained that a substantial amount will appear on the current year's Estimate for the same.