DUNCAN ROAD SPECIAL RATING AREA.

Northland Age, Volume 16, Issue 16, 9 January 1919, Page 5

DUNCAN ROAD SPECIAL RATING AREA.

At the recent meeting of the Mangonui County Council a deputation consisting of Messrs. T. Coulter and Hosking representing the Utukai settlers met the Council with a request to form a special rating area embracing the land contiguous to the Duncan Road. Conncillor Garton in introducing the deputation said that the settlers interested were included in the Western Special Rating Area, but they now wished to go a step further and complete the metalling of the Duncan Road in order that they might get access to the main road throughout the year. The settlers were to be congratulated in taking this progressive step, and helping themselves and he thought that the Council should assist them in every way possible. Mr. Hosking said that their first idea was to ask to be exempted from the larger area, but if this could not be done they were unanimous in shouldering the further liability. He wished it clearly understood that they were not against the £54,000 loan. Their district was settled ten years ago but even now they could not get their children to school during the winter months owing to the road. The amount required was £2,000 and they hoped to get a substantial subsidy from the Government. Until the subsidy certificates were redeemed they were quite prepared to pay interest on the whole amount. They were desirous that the matter should not be delayed as the district was now being kept back by the present conditions. Mr. Coulter said that there were twenty settlers interested in the new area, whose interests all lay in the direction of getting towards the main road. The rateable value of the proposed- new area was £4266, and if they got a £ for £ subsidy the rate would be 3d in the pound. Cr. Houston congratulated the deputation on their proposal to help themselves and he felt sure that the Council would help them. As the amount was a small one it might be possible to get it from the Government Advances Deparfment when the interest and sinking fund would be 5 y 2 per cent., as against 614 from the Public Trustee. It would not be a fair proposal to exempt this district from the Western Special Rating Area as they all used the main road on which portion of the £54,000 loan was to be spent.

Mr. Coulter said that they had no wish to be cut out of the Western Area. However, they wanted an assurance that they would not be called upon to contribute to other side roads such as the Church and Larmer’s roads.

Cr. Panther said that it would be quite unfair to ask them to do so. The settlers on these other roads would have to provide the interest for their own loans independent of other parts of the County.

Cr. Houston said that the settlers on the other side roads should do the same as the Otukai settlers. Before taking the necessary steps the Council must have an assurance that the loan would be strongly supported.

Messrs. Hosking and Coulter assured the Council that this assurance would be forthcoming. Cr. Garton said that the double rate would be heavy in the meantime and suggested that they should hold another meeting and explain to the settlers that they could not be exempted from the Western Area. If they then decided to go the Council should then assist them in every way.

Cr. L. J. Matthews said that the Council could not hold out any hope of exemption. It was far better to work under the one area.

Cr. Garton: Could any of the £54,000 loan subsidy be apportioned to the, side roads ? Cr. Houston: No. Cr. Panther said it appeared to him that Cr, Garton was finding obstacles which the deputation did not see themselves. Why should not the people think for themselves and act for themselves.

Movements of this nature were for the good of the community, and the Council should assist in every way. Cr. Long objected to the suggestion that loan subsidies which had been got for a specific purpose should be diverted. Why should not the Utukai settlers be allowed to form their own special area if they wanted their road metalled. They were intelligent men and knew that they had to pay their contribution to the main road loans also. It was no use metalling their side road unless they had a good main road also. It was the duty of the Council to assist the settlers to carry out their progressive scheme. Cr. Houston said that he was pleased to see that the Council were unanimous. In the meantime they could ascertain if the money could be procured from the State Advances.

Cr. Garton moved : “ That this Council make application to the State Advances Office for the sum of £2OOO for re-forming, adverting and metalling work in the Duncan Road Special Rating Area.” 1 he motion was seconded by Cr. Houston and carried unanimously. Mr. Hosking, in thanking the Council on behalf of the deputation, expressed the opinion that it was infinitely better to even pay a heavy rate than continue to drag through the mud. Mr. Coulter said that if the Council would procure an up-to-date plant the work would be cheapened, and he hoped that these would be procured, especially another crushing plant and road roller. TENDERS FOR ROAD WORKS.

The following tenders for road works were dealt with at the recent meeting of the Mangonui County Council : Mangonui Beach Road—E. A. Nilsson, £2600 4s 6d; Irvine and Wrathall, £2685; D. Crawley, £3848 Bs. Commerce Street, Kaitaia—E. A. Nilsson, £lOls 5s 4d. This tender includes formation of roads and footpaths, concrete culverts in position, concrete cess pits in position, 9-inch earthenware drain pipes in position and joints cemented, with outfall drains complete. Gravel for culverts is supplied by the Council. The Council decided to do the metalling with their own teams. Police Station Road—E. A. Nilsson, £3l 12s 6d; Geo. Bonnett, £4O. Kaitaia-Awanui Road—E. A. Nilsson, £1340 5s 6d. This tender is for the retormatioij.and culverting of 246 chains. In all tenders it has been made a proviso that the Council supply the contractor with grader, plough, scoops, and road roller. The tender of Mr. E. A. Nilsson was accepted for all the above contracts. LIME FOR FARMERS. Amongst the correspondence dealt with At the recent County Council meeting was a letter from the Marine Department re permission to remove shell at the Awanui Pleads for the purpose of producing agricultural lime. Mr. Geo. Wilkinson said that it was estimated that there was 100,000 tons of shells available and there was no danger of the supply giving out as the shell was accumulating all the time. The formation of a Lime Co. would be worth thousands of pounds to the district and it Vshould be encouraged by the Council. Cr. Houston said that the Council would probably also require a supply of shell for finishing their proposed tarsealed roads. However, if there was enough for both the Council and the proposed Co., the Council should not offer any objection.

Cr. Long agreed but thought that it would be advisable to have a particular area reserved for the Council. They did not want to find in a few years that they had given away something that they should have retained for the ratepayers. At the same time they should give every encouragement and co-operate with the proposed Co. in every way. Cr. Garton expressed the opinion that there was enough for all and that every encouragement should be given to produce agricultural lime. Cr. Panther suggested that the Council should go and see for themselves. If there was an unlimited supply there was no need to worry.

Cr. Houston agreed with this suggestion. During his visit to Taranaki he had been informed that tar and shell was the best material for tar sealing. It was eventually decided that the Council as a whole visit the locality and see for themselves the quantity cf shell available.