ROAD TO PORT

Northern Advocate, 20 March 1934, Page 10

ROAD TO PORT

AGAIN BEFORE COUNCIL ALTERNATIVE ROUTE DISCUSSED REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE. “A FEASIBLE SUGGESTION” .The much discussed question of a road to Kioreroa had a further airing at the meeting of the Whangarei Borough Council last night, when the Whangarei Harbour Board wrote in reference to uu alternative route tc connect the borough with the port.. Earlier in the meeting the council adopted a report on the proceedings of a . conference wit h the Harbour, Board in regard to the proposed road following the railway, and the minutes of a mooting.of tho suit-commit-tee appointed to handle negotiations in regard to the road. The minutes wore as follows: — 1

“Your committee received a memo from the Chief Engineer, Xew Zealand Railways, that he would recommend to the General Manager of Railways that; sufficient railway land be given up to: form a road 4.1 feet wide up to angle in boundary'fence at south end. Your committee was advised that the District Engineer, Xew Zealand Railways, at Auckland, would arrive in - Whangarei on Wednesday at -.4.1 p.m. and would meet the council at the railway station. Your eommittee ro- 1 commends that a meeting he arranged accordingly. Your committee recommends that its functions be extended to interview the Public Works Do-i partjnont and others if such net ion is considered necessary.” , The 'secretary of the Harbour Board stated - that, in accordance with in! struetions, he forwarded a copy of the borough plan showing thereon a practical road route ■which the Harbour Board bad approved as an alternative to the road as laid off within the borough via the railway and Hoey 's avos-_ tern, orchard. Tlie Harbour Board was prepared, without cost to the council, to legalise this route as a public road up to the borough boundary at the'

canal marked on the plan, if the lino was acceptable to the council. The matter was submitted to the council for consideration. The proposed road follows the waterfront from Kioreroa, passes through a small portion of Hocy’s property on the eastern side, and could be joined with Hannah Street at the borough boundary. The route was discussed by the Harbour Board at its meeting on Friday, when full details were given as to tho length and other features. The Mayor moved that the matter be referred to the committee already set up to handle negotiations in regard to the Kioreroa road.

Cr, Barclay: “I would like to know the council’s opinion, on this new suggestion before going any further with the other road.”

Cr., Mitchell: “I am surprised and disappointed that you suggest that this matter should bo referred to tho committee sot up for the special purpose of conducting negotiation with the Railway Department, and 1 ask iWhat relation this committee has to the new proposal. I think thanks are due to the Harbour Board, and certainly the ratepayers' thanks, if this ‘proposal proves to be a practical one. If -the matter is referred to the committee It will have the effect of shelving it. I ask why refer an important matter to a small committee?” I At tli is point it seemed that an ur- { gument on this question was about to [develop between the Mayor and Cr. Mitchell. j, The Mayor explained that the cpm- [ mittee was set np to deal with the question of a road along the railway, but the powers of that committee had ■ been widened by the council giving it power to interview the Public vyorks Department and others if such i iction was considered necessary. His I idea was that the committee would ncet the railway representative and then investigate the new road. What ■vas the use of setting up a new com- j m it tee? Cr. Donaldson; “That’s what they call shelving.” Cr. Mitchell: “I do press this point. Here we have a new scheme and the borough is naturally interested in any such proposal. You suggest that we throw the first consideration of the scheme before the committee. The effect of the motion is not going

to be an investigation of the scheme. I suggest that you are passing undue flattery to the . committee.”

Tho Mayor: “Move an amend ment. ”

Cr. Mitchell: “I cannot. It would

be a direct negative. ”

Cr. Holmes: “I will move an amendment that the council now consider the matter.” Cr. Holmes wont on to explain that the scheme was not originated by the Harbour Board, but tlio line was laid off by the Public. Works Department, and the secretary of the Harbour Board had suggested that the route be considered. Cr. Holmes did not consider that joining up with Hannah Street was desirable, however, as a big- bridge would , be required, and as a. bridge at the end of Cameron Street would be needed at some time two bridges were not necessary. Cr. Holmes considered j that the letter from the Harbour Board should have, staled that the line had been laid out by the Public works Department.

i Or. Barclay said that the engineer of the Harbour Board had supplied a Public Works plan, but it did not show any road laid out. However, lie thought the suggestion a splendid one. It was not going to cost half what the other route would cost, and he considered that the matter should be followed up. The reason why the other road had not been hurried up was because of financial reasons. Here, the council had a suggestion from the Harbour Board, arid it was “up to” (lie borough to follow it up am] hud out all they could about it. The Mayor; “All right, gentlemen, discuss i(.“ Or, Mitchell: “The council should closely investigate any new proposal that will relieve , any rating burden. I was disappointed to hear the suggestion 1 hat it should be put to a committee before the council had the opportunity of looking into it. If this is a practical scheme, the borough is going to got its portion done at a minimum of cost. Or. Holmes prefers that the road should join with Cameron Street, and every councillor agrees with him no doubt. Wo should thank the Harbour Board for the suggestion, T suggest that the council should inspect the proposed road at an early date. It would do a lot of good.”

Cr, Holmes maintained that the Public Works Department bad drawn up tlio lino, audit had not been drawn bv the Harbour Board.

Cr. Morrish said that tho proposal appeared to be an excellent one, and it would cost less, which was what the ratepayers wanted. In other respects, the road offered plenty of space for any width of road. Cr. Morrison said he was prepared to trust the committee to investigate the matter and report, but he would not express an opinion on the road until he had seen it. Tho Mayor: “Ton or twelve years ago I went over the route with the late Mr McLean. It is a feasible

road.’ ’ Cr. Donaldson said the matter would have to be referred back to the council. Personally, he thought the route more favourable than the other bv Die railway.

Cr. Barclay moved an amendment that immediate steps be taken to hold a conference with the Harbour Board so that the possibilities of the scheme could be realised. There should be no delay in the matter.

Cr, Holmes said that the Harbour Board bad already appointed a com-

mittee to meet tho borough in case such a course was taken by the council.

The Mayor; “I am still convinced that the proper thing to do is to refer the matter to tho. committee, with power to moot the Harbour Board committee and report back to the council. If tho committee give if as their opinion that it is tho best route, then I will give it every consideration. Tim amendment was lost on the casting vole of Die Mayor. The motion, wilh Die addition that Die committee have power to confer with the committee set up by the Harbour Board, was carried. i