ROADS AND BRIDGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16798, 14 March 1918, Page 6

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

NORTH AUCKLAND REQUESTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPON'DEXT.]

MANGONUI. Wednesday. The Minister for Public Works, the Hon. Sir William Fraser, accompanied by Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P., and party, left Rawene early this morning, and proceeded by motor-car to Whangaroa, via Kneo.

At Kaeo the Minister was received by a deputation of settlers, who asked if he would sanction the erection of a bridge across the Kaeo River. Mr. S. Lane, chairman of the Whangaroa County Council said the settlers would find the piles and provide the labour if the Public Works Department would drive tho piles .and provide the material for the superstructure. Tho Minister agreed to have, plans drawn up, but said that as he had no money just now for a permanent structure he would have tho piles driven, so that a temporary superstructure could bo utilised.

In the evening the Minister met the, Mangonui County Council. Several speakers referred to the damage done to the main road to Kaitaia by the carting of timber, and it was stated that it' something was not done to stay the menace many cream suppliers would have to go elsewhere. The council desired to alter its by-laws so that it could levy a higher royalty. Sir William said that while in Auckland a deputation of sawniillers hail waited upon him and said the council was trying to ruin thorn, and he had told them lie would say nothing until hearing the other side, ne was of opinion, however, that the matter was one for the Minister for Internal Affairs, and he would bring it before his notice Personally he thought that if it was a case of the sawniillers or settlers being penalised by the misuse of the road, there was no doubt it should not bo the latter.

Tho chairman referred to tho damage done by the racent storm to the Beach Road, and asked for a substantial subsidy towards making a permanent sea wail. The Minister said he could not take money from the flood vote for permanent works. He could only grant money in these abnormal times to keep roads passable, and tho best ho could do would be to restore the road to its former state, Mr. J. Garton urged the linking up of Mangonui County with the railhead by a direct route known as the Peria-Manga-muka Road. He said the present main road hugged the coast and went through poor land, while the other route would open up vast tracts of excellent unimproved lands, and shorten the distance by 40 miles. Other speakers supported the proposal, and the chairman, Mr. Houston, said they did not ask for a definite answer then, as Kaitaia wanted to speak on tho matter. What they wanted was information as to where the future terminus of the railway would be so that they could map out a" roading scheme to meet that terminus. The Minister said he could not say definitely what the objective would be, but what'the engineers said led him to the conclusion that the line would pass throuyh Mangarauka. However, the final decision. I had to be made by_ Cabinet^