NEEDS OF OPOTIKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 13

NEEDS OF OPOTIKI.

BETTER MEANS OF TRANSPORT EXPEDITING PUBLIC WORKS. REQUESTS MADE TO MINISTER. [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J OPOTIKI. Thursday. After the publio reception yesterday afternoon, the Minister of Public Works, Hon. K. S. Williams, had a busy time receiving deputations. The first request was for the Government to push on the East Coast Road to Gisborne. The spokesmen were Mr. H. R. Hogg, representing the County Council, Mr. D. C. Hawkins, Borough Council. Mr. S. Shalfoon, the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. J. R. Small, the Farmers' Union. All speakers emphasised the fact that the work was of national as well as local importance. It was also pointed out that the road, when completed, would help considerably toward making the railway t*» Opotiki pay. A request for a report on flood protection was strongly urged by Mr. Hawkins on behalf of the Borough Council. He said that although a river board had been appointed the question of finance was altogether too big for the board to handle. He also mentioned that £30,000 was being spent on tho new Waioeka Bridge, but that there was grave danger of the bridge being left high and dry in the near future. Power TransmsLslon Lines, Mr. Shalfoon supported Mr. Hawkins, saying that the townspeople were always frightened of floods if rain fell for a few hours. A request by Mr. H. R. Hogg, chairman of the Bay of Plenty Power Board, ihat the Government should expedite the erection of the transmission lines to Ngongoi taha, so that the work would be completed at the same time as the local lines. Construction of the East Coast railway from Taneatua was urged by Mr. Small. He pointed out the vital necessity of enabling cheap manures to be obtained. He was supported by Mr. T. H. Pearson, representing the Waiotahi and Cheddar Valley dairy factories. Mr. Pearson mentioned that produce from these factories had sometimes been held up at Kutarere for 10 days waiting for a boat. Mr. J. Irwin, on behalf of the Waiotahi Drainage Board, asked for a subsidy to enable the board to buy a dredge. A sum of £IOSO had been borrowed, but was not nearly enough for the requirements. Bridges on East Coast Road. The Minister thanked the deputations for the very moderate requests. With regard to the East Coast Road he had said that possibly smaller bridges, fit to carry stock and light motors, might be built, thus minimising the cost. He also mentioned that the Public Works Department was looking into the matter of building a suspension bridge over the Mot'J. He recognised that the work was beyond the County Council finances and that the Government must bear part of the cost. He promised to do his best for the road. Mr. Williams said he would endeavour to get a report on flood protection, the question of subsidy to be considered after the report was made. Regarding the erection of the transmission lines to Ngongotaha the Minister said the engineers had reported that it was inadvisable to proceed with the work during the winter months, but they would endeavour to get the work expedited. The Minister gave sympathetic replies to all the other questions brought forward and promised to do his best. The Mayor, on behalf of the deputations, thanked the Minister ffer the patient hearing. The Minister was accorded an enthusiastic reception at the public dinner and smoke concert held later at the Masonic Hotel. Both functions were well attended.