New Seaside Settlement

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 291, 9 December 1936, Page 6

New Seaside Settlement

CITY SYNDICATE’S PROPOSAL.

Proposals are afoot for the establishment of a new seaside settlement on the coast between Foxton and the Rangitikei river with access from Himatangi by a road just under five miles in length. Preliminary steps towards securing access to the location of the new settlement, which is to be known as Koputara, were taken yesterday when Messrs. R. IV. Priest and O. J. Dolan, of Palmerston North, waited on the Manawatu County Council. The council had before it a plan of the proposed settlement showing the layout and the road access from Himatangi.

Mr. Priest stated that the syndicate desired the council to construct the main road giving access to the settlement, the syndicate undertaking to guarantee the council the cost of the work. It was hoped to secure a subsidy on the cost of the construction of the road and the syndicate felt that the County Council was the best body to deal with the construction of the road and the application for the subsidy. In reply to Cr. E. A. Wilson, Mr. Priest said that he understood that a subsidy for this class of work would be forthcoming. The syndicate controlling the venture, said Mr. Priest, would guarantee the cost of the roading if the council undertook the work. The distance of the proposed township from the Foxton highway would bo about live miles and provision had been made for about 15b building sections but there was ample room for expansion.

The unimproved value of the country was very low, said Cr. J. Boyce, and he was rather concerned as to the cost of maintenance of the proposed road. Cr. Wilson suggested that the land might bo specially rated for road maintenance.

Cr. Boyce thought it only fair to raise the question of road maintenance, because he visualised that it would be a costly item to the council, which would not be helped very much by the rate revenue from tho sections. Although he had not seen the beach he felt that the proposed settlement wou’/l be very popular. The chairman (Cr. W. E. Barber) said that the syndicate should first dedicate the road line and then arrange with the council for the construction of the road.

This course was agreed upon by the deputation which undertook to have the road line surveyed and the land for roading dedicated to the council.