NGAWHAKARAU ROAD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7068, 30 July 1901, Page 2

NGAWHAKARAU ROAD.

A special meeting of the Borough Council wa3 held yesterday afternoon for the purpose of receiving the citation served on behalf of the ; Manawatu County Council in connection with the Commission of Enquiry appointed in connection with the apportionment of the cost of the proposed road. A letter was also read from the Commissioner, Mr Shortt, of the Lands Department, asking the Council, in view of the citation, to be represented at the hearing, which, will take place at the Courthouse early.next month, There were present at the meeting the Mayor, Crs Mowlem, Cooke, Goodger Oopeland, Wood, Haydon and Pirani. Mr Fitzherberfc (Borough Solicitor) was also present.

. Referring to the road the Mayer stated that-it was in just the same state now as it was when it was made and left under the Public Works policy instituted by Messrs Fox and Vogel, the work being done before either of the gentlemen stated were knighted. A portion of the road was in good order, due to the bush having been fallen by the pro prietor, but when the bush was still standing difficulties commenced. Business some time ago had taken him to Oroua Bridge, and on that occasion he had had to walk up to his knees in mud for a considerable distance, and was still suffering from the ill-effects caused by his journey. The road was impassable at the far end of it. The Manawatn Road Board and Manawatu County Council received all rates from properties in the neighbourhood. The Borough received no rates, and so for as trying to tax the Borough, it seemed to him that they might just as well ask that the two local bodies interested should be asked to pay for the use they made of the Borough roads and streets. The advantages were to those using the road, and there must be advantages to those using it or else they would not come here.

Cr Wood stated the road was just the' same as it was 20 years ago. Cr Pirani stated that £200 had been placed on the estimates to make theroad. The Minister of Lands, the Hon J. Duncan, had, some time ago. gone oyer the road, and had agreed to find one-third of the cost providing the Road Board and County Council found the remaining money between them. The agitation in connection with the construction of the road had come from the County Council. There had been very little agitation at mis end. The Chairman of the County Council had paid nothing at all for the road which was practically made for the benefit of his ratepayers. The Manawatn Eoad Board was willing to pay one-third of the cost. The special rates would only amount to £20 per year, and the money could be got under the Loan to Local Bodies Act. The whole of the cost was estimated at £1600, and £200 had been placed on the estimates. -Cr Pirani mentioned that he had seen a reference to the road in an old Parliamentary paper of 1871, with a.planof the road from the Gorge to Foxton, defined as a main Government road. There was no doubt that the Government should assist in the construction of the road and he believed they would have contributed-one-half of the cost if one-third had not been suggested to them. He thought the Council should not contribute and that the matter should be placed very plainly before the Commissioner.

Replying to Cr Cooke, CrPiraci stated the Government offer of one-third of the cost was contingent upon the Road Board and County Council finding the remaining two-thirds. Remaining discussion on the matter was of a technical character, dealing especially with the steps the Council should take as to entering an energetic protest against being drawn into the matter, especially as the Manawatu Road Board, the initiating body, had not desired the Council should be included in the contributors. :

It was decided that the Boroueh solicitor, Mr Fitzherbert. should represent the Council at the Commission.