COST OF A HIGHWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 13

COST OF A HIGHWAY.

HAMILTON TO NGARUAWAHI A.

PROBLEM OF MAINTENANCE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE AWAMUTU, Monday.

Tho Waipa. County Council at a meeting to-day received advice from the Main Highways Board that tho board regretted being unable to increase its offer of a £3 for £1 subsidy for bitumen surfacing tho main highway between Hamilton and Ngaruawahia. Tho letter stated that if tho council failed to institute a system of gravel maintenance within tho next fortnight tho board would be reluctantly compelled to partly revoke tho council's authority to take over control, and would charge tho council ono-thiid of all. maintenance expenditure. The board did not wish to adopt this course if it was possible to avoid it, and would be glad if the council would forthwith make arrangements for tho satisfactory maintenance of tho road with gravel. The county engineer submitted an estimate of tho cost of bitumen surfacing tho full length of tho Great South Road in the Waipa County, just over 30 miles, and suggested that tho council offer to raiso a loan necessary for this if tho Highways Board would provide a £3 for £1 subsidy over tho whole length, tho work to be completed within five years. After discussion tho council approved this suggestion. It was stated that tho council would have to raiso a loan of about £32,000 to provide its quota. In the meantimo maintenance with river gravel would bo undertaken on tho Ilamilton-Ngarua-wabia section. Later in the day a deputation from tho Auckland Automobile Association strongly urged the council to at once accept the Highways Board's offer, which, it was hinted, might be withdrawn if not quickly accepted. Mr. Grayson said tho motorists supported the board becauso it offered threefourths of the cost and the council represented a prosperous area. The other funds wero required for reading less prosperous districts. The motorists could not urge tho council's alternative offer, covering tho whole 30 miles, although they would bo glad if tho boLrd could agree to that finally.

The council appointed Messrs. Macky, Johnson and tho engineer to confer with representatives of tho board with a view to finding a solution of the question.