THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19143, 8 October 1925, Page 12

THE MAIN HIGHWAYS.

GRIEVANCE AT WHANGAREi. OUTLETS FROM BOROUGH. COST OF RECONSTRUCTION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WIT ANO ARKI. Wednesday. Although not unique in that respect Wbangarei Borough is so situated that traffic by main highways between north and south must pass through it, and that from east to west must begin or end within it. Consequently application was made through the District Council to the Main Highways Board for assistance in the cost of reconstruction of certain roads within the borough which were considered part of the main highways. The outcome was a reply that the Main Highways Board was unable to extend special consideration to the Borough Council's request and could not grant any assistance beyond maintenance. Consequently the Mayor, Mr. J. E. Holmes, moved that it should be ascertained definitely from the Highways Board what amount it was prepared to give for maintenance; that the council should prepare and forward to the Municipal Association conference a remit upon the subject; and that the Riccarton Borough Council, which was the first to write to the Whangarei Council upon tfic matter, be communicated with. The Mayor said he thought the time had arrived for joint action. The council should not take the decision of the Highways Board without exerting strong resistance. The district council of the board had considered the claim as reasonable and had recommended it strongly to the board, not only in regard to assistance toward maintenance, but also for construction of the Otaika and Maunu Roads, which were reaily thoroughly worn out when they were taken over from tho County Council. At present they were only in a by-street state yet. They were two very important inlets to the borough from the south and west. The engineer had estimated the cost of their construction at £Bs4o—being £2640 for Maunu Road and £5900 for the Otaika Road—to bring them up to standard to the borough boundary. After the Riccarton Borough Council " had replied, the Minister for Public Works should be approached upon the subject. The motion was carried unanimously.