GOVERNMENT ROAD GRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13325, 3 November 1906, Page 6

GOVERNMENT ROAD GRANTS.

HOW THE MONEY IS VOTED. WAITEMATA COUNTY'S PROPORTION. SUPPLY OF RAILWAY TRUCKS. At the ordinary meeting of the Waitemata County Council, held yesterday, the various grants for roads and bridges made in the Estimates were considered. It was reported to the meeting that on the publication of the grants it was found that most of the money voted for the Waitemata County consisted of last year's unexpended votes, but which had been spent since that date, and revoted for this year. The settlers were under the impression that the votes consisted of entirely new money. When this was discovered, the clerk (Mr. C. A. Cawlcwell) telegraphed to the member for the district (.Mr. E. W. Alison), in Wellington, and made representations in other directions that the votes had been also voted last year, but had since been spent. The representations had proved successful, for £750 was voted in the Supplementary Estimates for the Waitemata County. The money had been apportioned as follows:—Albany to Cut Hills road, £300; Lucas' Creek school bridge, £100; Waiwera Hot Springs Main Road, £150; and the Waiwera to Puhoi Road, £200. In explaining to the Council how the money voted last year had not been expended before March, Mr. Cawkwell stated that he had been advised from Wellington that the Council's chance of securing grants had been jeopardised by the money not being spent within the year, but the Council really was not to blame for that. In the Kaipara country the delay was caused through their not" being able'to get railway trucks to convey the road material from the gaol, where the Council obtained the stone, to the Kaipara country during the summer months, while there was also delay in receiving the necessary special authority from Wellington for expending the grant after it had been voted. The "scarcity of railway trucks had been caused through the vehicles being fitted up for the increased passenger traffic caused by the holding of race and sports meetings, from about this time on every year, during the summer months, and consequently the metal could not be conveyed when required. During last year there was a scarcity of trucks for metal for about six weeks altogether. The Council decided to make representations in the matter to Wellington.