INTERRUPTED TRAFFIC

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1934, Page 7

INTERRUPTED TRAFFIC

SS NEED FOR ALL-WEATHER ROAD. == OTIRIA TO KAITAIA. SS The urgent need for having one SB highway route between Kaitaia and ■55 Whangarei raised above normal flood SS level on low-lying sections was re- @ cently brought before the Highways =5 Council by the Kaitaia Chamber of 555 Commerce. 55 Mr R. H. P. Ronayne has replied Frj stating that work of this nature comes under the heading of construction, and SS construction funds were fairly limited as at present. It was the direction of SS the Main Highways Board that what money is available be concentrated SS on the renewal of fast decaying 55 bridges, hundreds of which required as renewal in No. 1 District alone. He p” had already endeavoured to get at m least three local bodies interested in 55 raising portions of the main highway as between Whangarei and Kaitaia above 55 flood level, but as things were at press: sent it was practically an impossibility 5a to obtain from the local bodies consa cerned their proportion of the cost, xj which, in the majority of cases, would s=J be one-third.

The first step for the chamber was to get the local bodies interested in an all-weather road between the railhead and Kaitaia. One of the main causes of flooding, the letter stated, was the non-removal of willow trees from stream beds, and this was a matter to which settlers would have to give very serious attention in the near future. The chamber’s assistance in pressing this important matter before the settlers would be greatly appreciated by the reading authorities. The request of the chamber would not be lost sight of and improvements would surely follow when financial conditions improved. The secretary, Mr • W. Berry, said Ihe had not been able to get an opinion from Mr McMillan, who was away at present, on the effect the removal of willows would have, but he had seen Mr Torrie, county engineer, who j did not seem to think that the water would come away any faster if all the willows were taken out. At Double Crossing there was no doubt the willows had a considerable effect on flooding. Mr Archibald said the County Council had been discussing the willows for a number of years and had thrown the onus for removing them* on the j owners of the land. It would be a good thing if the chamber sent a deputation to the council asking if it was possible to enforce the removal I of the willows. I

The secretary stated that the council had already acted, but, the killing of the willows was a slow process and time had to be allowed.

It was left with the secretary to interview Mr McMillan, drainage engineer, and the County Council.