LINK WITH TARANAKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18334, 26 February 1923, Page 8

LINK WITH TARANAKI.

AWAKINO VALLEY ROAD. EXPEDITING THE WORK. -, -. . , ■ COMPLETION THIS SUMMER. The necessity for pushing on with the, metalling of the Awakino Valley Road, and having connection between the Taranaki and Auckland Provinces made this year, was impressed on the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coatee, by the president of 'the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, Mr. T. C. List, in Wellington last week. ' •■•■■ - As a result of a recent inspection of the work, Mr. List said that unless methods were changed the metalling would not be finished for Iwelve months, though the formation work, bridges and drains, would be completed by tho end of April. Only six drays were now engaged, and ho asked that the number be trebled and an effort made to finish the metalling before winter. He also pointed out that 60. chains at the Mahoenui <rad had been handed over j to the Waitoftio Council, which had called for tenders for tho metalling but had not accepted any. He asked that action be taken forthwith, otherwise several soldier settlers, served by 'the new road, would have to continue sledging through thick mud again this winter. The Minister was sympathetic, stating that ft was part of his policy to concentrate and get work out of hand as soon as possible. Financial difficulties were in the way, the present votes being nearly all absorbed for this, work for the present year, but he would do what was possible to get a further vote. : * Subsequently Mr. Coates intimated that he had obtained further financial authorities for the work and he was prepared to find the necessary money to complete.: the whole job this summer. He was inquiring what number of drays would be required to do this, and he was also making whal effort was. possible to get the metalling completed at the Mahoenui end. To the end ; of December the total expenditure on the Valley Road had been £42,236.