Many Reading Requests To County Council

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1939, Page 9

Many Reading Requests To County Council

Facing the Whangarei County Council at its monthly meeting yesterday were a number of requests for improvements to country roads. Mr T. Jackson, of Maungatapere,

advised that his access road was in very poor state and usable only in dry weather. He himself had done a fair amount of work, but metal was required. The request was supported by a letter from Mr Harold Maugham, who verified the statements. The question was referred to the riding member and the engineer.— A request for improvements to the Waiotu and Jordan Valley roads was received from the Hukerenm School Committee, which stated that school buses were used on these roads.

It was stated that the grader was working on these roads. Petition From Portland. A petition bearing 74 signatures was received from Portland motorists asking that the road from Portland to the junction with the Auckland highway be repaired. “In response to previous requests,” stated the preamble to the petition, “for repairs to be carried out, the metal has been graded to the centre of the road only and within , a few days has been swept to the side. This method we consider is a waste of money, time and labour. It has been suggested that a deep scarifying, grading and rolling would put the road in fair condition for a considerable time and this would be appreciated by the petitioners.”

A tally of vehicles using the road which was enclosed showed that for a three-day period 277 vehicles had gone into Portland and 267 out.

The petition was supported by letters from Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement Ltd. and the Automobile Association, Auckland. Little Money Available.

The chairman, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay, said it had to be remembered that none, or very little, of the money from the traffic was being made available. Cr. L. W. Smith said there was not a great deal of revenue available. In March, 300 yards of metal had been put on the road, and it had been graded recently. It was getting above its share of revenue.

Cr. R. Feaver suggested that the Portland company should be asked to subsidise the road. Cr. J. Morrison: It is another case of metalled roads not being sufficient to carry the traffic.

Cr. Smith: It carries a tremendous volume of traffic. Cr. F. Elliott said metalled roads could not carry the heavy traffic of today, and the time was not far distant when the question of providing bitumen on similar roads in many parts of the county would have to be considered.

The chairman pointed out that more than sufficient money was being paid

through the petrol tax, but the trouble was that the money was not being made available.

Cr. Smith; Would it do any good to put the question before the district engineer of the Public Works Department?

Cr. A. Clarke: Could the question not be placed before the Highways Board?

The chairman said the time was not opportune to put the question before the Public Works Department, as the council had held its yearly meeting only recently. Other Requests.

From Helena Bay a request was received from Mr G. Ward for maintenance work to be done on his access road branching from the WhangareiRussell road.

“At the present time, the water runs down the middle of the road and in places has washed off the metal,” stated the letter.

The request was referred to the riding member and the engineer.

Ten or 12 truck loads of metal was asked by IVfr H. Wyatt, living just off Morningsido Road at the beginning of the railway cottages in Whangarei. Mr Wyatt stated that he had put 20 loads of spoil from the new Supreme Court site, and this would make a splendid foundation for smaller metal if the council would supply it. This request was referred to the riding member and engineer.