WHANGAREI-KAWAKAWA

Northern Advocate, 14 July 1933, Page 4

WHANGAREI-KAWAKAWA

ALL-WEATHER HIGHWAY. CONTRIBUTION BASIS DISPUTED. The financing of further wprka necessary to make the Kawakawa* Whangarei highway an all-weather route, was discussed by the Whangarei County Council to-day. The District Engineer advised that culverts had been placed at Hukerenui and the- filling wmild be completed as soon as possible. The sum of £6OO was being spent on this work, to which the council had contributed £IOO.

It was also considered desirable that a commencement be made with similar work at Whakapara, and with the expenditure of £750 this portion of the road, now subject to flood, if raised, could cater for the traffic, except in times of extremely high flood. . To construct an embankment that would be above flood level would be a very expensive- matter, but a great improvement could be made for an expenditure of £750. If the council j were prepared to find £250, on a £2 to £1 basis, Mr. Ronayne thought the I Highways Board would be agreeable • jto put the work in hand. On receiving this letter, the county chairman informed Mr. Ronayne that . the agreement in connection with expenditure on this road was that' the council should contribute £1 for £5/

In reply to this, the District Engineer stated that the higher subsidy, was only made available to connect up metalling and construct minor deviations, bridges, etc. He was positive that the Highways Board wpuld not subsidise the work on a basis other than £2 for £l. *• • , ; Mr. Ronayne added that when the Hnkereniu filling is completed, expenditure on the highway between the turn-off and the county boumiU ary, will havg amounted to £15,262, of ' which amount the county would have contributed approximately £2543. The matter was discussed at the meeting of the Whangarei CountyCouncil to-day. Or. F, Elliott deprecated any proposal by the Highways Board to go back on the originhl agreement. The chairman moved that the District Engineer be informed that the council was satisfied with the road toWhakapara, but still-- regarded the section between .the kridge and Seymour’s as being on the basis p£ £5 to £1 for construction, and, :jptepajred , to contribute on the basis definitely / agreed uponr ‘ ’-’ l ;. , • ■ \ was seconded by. Or, .Elliott and carried.' • * ■.