Want Reopening Of Waitangi Estate Rd.

Northern Advocate, 14 July 1949, Page 4

Want Reopening Of Waitangi Estate Rd.

KAWAKAWA, Thu. (Sp.)— Unless the Waitangi National Trust Board can show reasons to the contrary, the Bay of Islands County Council proposes to take what action it can to have legal road access provided to the Waitangi Estuary bridge and the concrete wharf on the Waitangi foreshore. A decision was made yesterday to instruct the county clerk (Mr J. L. Rayner) to forward a copy of a letter received from the Paihia Residents’ Association to the Trust Board administrator (Mr V. 11. Reed), asking for his comments.

This letter, signed by the Residents’ Association chairman (Mr C. R. Banton), said the committee had viewed the closing of the Waitangi Estate foreshore road with grave concern and had passed the following resolution:

“That, in view of the very large amount of public money that has been expended to provide the Waitangi Bridge and the concrete wharf below the bridge, this committee is of the opinion that road access should be made available so that the general public may be able to use both these structures at all times;

“That the road be again opened along the estate foreshore, thus giving facilities to people coming by launch to visit the Paihia side of the river.”

This last portion, it was stated, applied particularly to parties of Maoris arriving from different parts of the Bay to take part in meetings held in the Waitangi Hall. NO GUARANTEE FOR FUTURE In his letter Mr Banton wrote: — “While we are aware that at present these facilities are available, there is no guarantee that, they will not be prohibited as soon as further development takes place on the Waitangi Estate.”

The association therefore earnestly requested the council to do its utmost to set the machinery in motion to have the road reopened. On the chairman’s suggestion it was decided first to seek the view of the Trust Board administrator. Another letter was received from the Paihia residents asking' for sweeping controls of the Paihia beaches to be vested in their local association, which would be responsible to the County Council. The council appointed a sub-com-mittee consisting of the chairman (Cr H. T. Atkinson), the riding member (Cr C. S. Foster) and the county engineer (Mr S. B. Clifford) to meet the residents and discuss their proposal in detail.