TAIPUHA-WAIPU ROAD

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1936, Page 9

TAIPUHA-WAIPU ROAD

POSSIBLE RELIEF WORKS

The widening to 16ft and metalling of the Taipuha-Waipu Road, over a length of six miles recently was submitted to the Minister of Public Works as a possible relief work.

The Minister of Finance considered the settlers or the county councils concerned should find £IOOO towards the cost, and that the councils should accept the responsibility of future maintenance.

A conference to discuss the reading of the district between Waipu, Mareretu and Taipuha was attended by representatives of the Otamatea and Whangarei County Councils and the district engineer, and a report from it was submitted to the Whangarei County Council yesterday. The conference agreed that the expenditure outlined by the department (£10,000) be devoted to forming, culverting, bridging and metalling both the Mareretu-Waipu and TaipuhaNorth River roads. In the event of the proposal being approved by the Government, the Otamatea county agreed to contribute £SO towards the preparatory work on both roads, while Cr. A. J. McKay, on behalf of Whangarei county, agreed to contribute £IOO towards the culverting and formation of the Taipuha-North River Road, and £SO towards formation, culverting and briding of the Mareretu-Waipu Road. Of the Mareretu-Waipu Road, 43 per cent lies in Whangarei County, whereas 53 per cent of the Taipuha North River road is outside the boundaries of Otamatea. Preliminary Survey. A preliminary engineering survey carried out by the P.W.D. showed the cost of formation and culverting of the Mareretu—Waipu Road at approximately £2600, with an additional £2500 for bridging, while, on the Taipuha-North River road, formation and culverting were likely to cost £2200.

The district engineer considered that the formation should be allowed to consolidate properly before attempting to metal—a two year programme.

The Whangarei County Council yesterday Confirmed the contributions outlined above.

Cr. A. J. McKay said that residents of Finlayson’s Brook and Mareretu had expressed alarm after reading a report which had appeared in the Press. The Press was not blamed for this, but the statement published had not emanated from the Whangarei county. It had stated that for the past 10 years the Whangarei County Council had been active in making representations for the formation and metalling of the road connecting Taipuha and Waipu. That was incorrect, and Cr. McKay said he had explained the proper position at a special meeting of ratepayers convened for the purpose.

The agitation for the TaipuhaWaipu road had come from the settlers and not from the county. At a conference held on the ground, it had been stressed that the Taipuha connection would be of no benefit to Otamatea settlers, and, yet, the first time the question of the road had come before the Whangarei County had been when a letter was received last October from the Otamatea council on behalf of 16 ratepayers.