GOVERNMENT GRANTS FOR ROADS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13985, 19 August 1907, Page 6

GOVERNMENT GRANTS FOR ROADS.

AGAIN DISCUSSED BY WAIHEMO

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Tho correspondence between Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., and Mr James Roes, chairman of the Waihemo County Council, in regard to the Moonlight-Rock and Pillar road, cropped up again at Saturday's meeting of tho council. Tho Chief Engineer of Roads wrote intimating that authority for expenditure of £100 on fiio road referred lo had now been cancelled, and a letter from Mr Tlios. Mackenzie, M.H.R., of date July 27, and which has already appeared in our columns, was also read, Referring to the latter communication, The Chairman (Cr J. Ross) said he had observed that Mr Mackenzie ha<l published a copy of Ms letter in the columns of the press at the same time that he had 'forwarded the original to tho council, He (tho chairman) did not object to that course further than to remark that to ono of his letters Mr -Mackenzie appended a 6uggeetiou that the correspondence should l;c published, and without waiting for tho assent or otherwise of the council had handed his letter to the. papers for publication. The Chairman then said: Mr Mackenzie, in his. letter deals principally with tho Government grant of £300 for tho proposed Moonlight-Rock and Pillar road. It is true that on the mistaken representations of Or Clark, member for the riding, tho council applied for a grant for .-.Hi a road, but so that its subsequent actiui. ia the matter may bo thoroughly understood, and my remarks as to "button-Wing" justified, it is necessary to refer to district engineer's reports received by the council. Erst.of all, on January 8, 19C6, the District Engineer of Roads says:—"l understand that Mr M'Curdic, late District Engineer of Roads, Dunedin, suggested to the Chief Engineer of Eoads, Wellington, that tho whole road should be revised if any money is to be spent on it, and a good road, taken over on a grade 1 in W, or thereabouts," etc. Then the District Engineer, Christchuroh, December 12, 1906, reports: — " . . . lam forced lo the conclusion that if a road as proposed is required it must be ma-do on the very best grades procurable, because at such an elevation and through such country the road will, 'of necessity, bo dangerous in winter timo, and it:must therefore be made fairly wide, more especially at the turns, and there will be many of them, or the local body will 'be held liable in case of accident. Furthermore, if the proposed road is made to join the already formed road down the river from, neat Hyde, a traffic bridge over the Taieri River will be required to connect with Rock and Pillar Railway Station, and all this means a very largo expenditure. There is already a good road to Hyde and a bridge over the Taieri River at. that place, and tho number •of settlers that will' bo benefited by this proposed road is very small indeed. Taking all these matters .into consideration I cannot approve the plans and specifications that have been submitted to me, as the grades are too steep." On receiving this report tho council naturally abandoned the idea of such a road. Cr Clark at the time remarking that he would seo what Mr Thomas Mackenzie had to say about it.

Cr.Clark: That is not correct, Mr Chair man.

The Chairman: It is. Than on tho 12th February, 1907, tho Chief Engineer of Roads, Wellington, wrote: "In connection with your council's proposals for the expenditure of the grant for the above road.(i.e., Moonlight to Rock-and-Pillar), which the district engineer declined to approve, I havo now to inform you that the matter has received consideration, and tho district road engineer has now been informed that he may approve of expenditure,". etc. This letter being received after Cr Clark's remark when the council decided to allow tho vote to lapse 6hows clearly, I think, that some political influence had been at work; hence my reference to " button-holing." Perhaps Mr Mackenzie will explain what transpired to enablo tho chief engineer to advise the district engineer that the expenditure could be approved despite the adverse report ho (tho district engineer) had previously forwarded to tho council. At tho conclusion of his remarks tho chairman laid all tho official documents in verification of his statements upon the table. Cr Matheson: There is no record that Mr Mackenzie was informed of the council's decision not to proceed with the road—ho was not adviccd to withdraw the application for a grant. Tho Chairman: That was not necessary under the circumstances.

Cr Clark: I am very pleased that the chairman and members- of the council since our last meeting have gone over the road, and I am sure they will all unhesitatingly admit that all I havo said about the road is correct—that I have not misled them. I stated on several occasions that the principal objection to the construction of the roa-d was a gully, and I have tried to explain the whole matter, as clearly as possible. j Or Muir: I do not remember anything being said about the gully. The 'Chairman: All the members understood there was a steep incline, but they were not aware of the gully. Cr Clark: What need was there to ask for a deviation through Matheson's land if no deviation was necessary? The Chairman: For tho purposes of pub. lication I have written what I have stated in reply to Mr Mackenzie's letter, and with the council's permission I will hand it to the press. Cr Clark: I. shall then have an opportunity I suppose of replying, if I think fit. Cr D. Ross: I think it would be better if Mr Mackenzie sent his letters to the council and gave us an opportunity of considering them before sending them to tho papers.

the Chairman: Mr Mackenzie suggested that they should be published, and took it for granted, I suppose, that the suggestion would be approved. The council acquiesced in the Chairman's suggestion that his reply to Mr Mackenzie's loiter should be published, and the corrcspondence on the subject was minuted as received. When the council resumed after the luncheon adjournment, The Chairman said that before going on with the consideration of a schedule of works for which grants were to be applied ■for, ho wished to know from Cr Clark whether ho still refused to admit that he made the remark at a provious council meeting that " he would see what Mr Mackenzie had to say about it."

Cr Clark: That statement is incorrect; I did not-make it.

The Chairman: If you did not .use-the mM ffiat did ggq, sajtf

Cr Clark: I dooline to bo catechised by. the chairman. The Chairman: I will leave it to the members to say if I have misquoted Cr Clark.

Cr Muir: Cr Clark made use of Mr Mac. kenzio's name.

Cr Matheson: I do not remember Mi Mackenzie's name being used. Cr Claris said ho would see about it, or something to that effect; tliat some other mea.ns or some other way would bo tried. Crs O'Connell and O'Neill agreed with Cr Matheson's impression of what was said, and Cr Stenliouse held a similar view.

Cr Philip: There was a threat of somt kind. Cr Clark said something about nol being done with it. Cr Matheson: There was a threat. Cr Muir: I am quite sure Mr Mackenzie's name was used. Tho Chairman: I still maintain that what I have stated, and what Cr Muir says, is correct. Cr Clark then moved—"That, a Government grant of £500 bo requested for tho Moonlight-Rock and Pillar road." Or O'Connell seconded the motion, and Raid tho settlers in tlio district wore suffering inconvenience and loss owing to their distance from a. railway. The Chairman: The road is much worse than it was represented. I have known the country for years, but was never over the road until the other day. The gully . is so steep that it would take a man all his time to lead a horse up it, and if constructed tho road would ho utterly useless to the bulk of tho settlers. It would be no use whatever without a bridge over the Taieri River, and would cost £3000. Cr O'Connell: That is nonsense. Cr O'Neill: The road is unnecessary. - There is a. road between Hyde and Dun- . back, and if that i 6 improved it will assist the whole of tho settlors and not. merely a few.

Cr Matheson: The engineering difficulties aro not so great as I thought. About 30ft or 40ft of filling in would bo necessary in tho gully, and with a bridge tho road would be an advantage. As it is r Government grant I do not feel inclined <o oppose it.

Cr Stcnhoiuo: It is a question of cost. It will bo years before a bridge is erected. Cr Philip: Where there are two or three roads it is necessary to attend to the one that will be of most sorvice. To got a. gTant for the road would cause the Hydo load to be starved, and the latter is tho road over whioh the oreairi is carried by the settlers in the district.

Cr Muir: The greatest engineering difficulty is not in getting up the hill, but in getting down tho gullv. If £3000 is asked for, including a. bridge, 'it would 1)0 some use. There ore two roads out, of Moonlight—ono at tho curt and tho other at tlie top. Cr lioss: Tlio road will not. benefit- many soltlere. Tho settlers thoro are buying ono another out, and thero arc not so many as formerly. Thoro were only fivo settlors that I know of whom tho road would benefit. Cr Clark: Eleven. Cr Ross: No, five. The motion was then put. and lost, Cra Clark, O'Connell, and Mathcweon voting for, and the other councillors against. On tie motion of Cr O'Connell. 60<»nded by Cr Clark, it was thou resolved to apply for a grant, of £500 for tho Dunback-llydo road, and in roplv to a request from Mr Mackenzie, for a statemont of works required in the county, it was also resolved to apply for £300 for straightening enrvos in tho Muddy Greek to Junction road, and £500 towards improving sharp curves on tho Green VaHcy road. It was also resolved, on tho motion of Cr Stenhouse, that, £50 bo expended on the Goodwood Villago Settlement road, tho work to bo left in tho hands of tho inspector to carry out.