ARTERIAL ROADS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3852, 30 November 1917, Page 2

ARTERIAL ROADS.

COST OP IMPROVEMENT

Ati the Ohinemuri! County Council meeting on Wednesdiay afternoon, Cr. Keeling advocated spreading the cost of improvement on the three main arterial roads over a greater part of the County. He had prepared a rough estimate for improving each di the main roads in the Qounty : Paeroa to Hikutaia, main road, 6 miles at £168 a mile .... £1008. Te Aroha, main road, 4 miles at £168' a mile £672. Te Aroha, main road, 4 miles at £480 a mile £1920. Nethertbn to Turua, 1 mile .. £480. Main Kerepeeli, % mile £250. Balance £672. A great portion of the balance could be spent on the main Netherton Road. The total cost he estimated at £5000, and said the interest on this amount would be £250 a year. He wtould like the - permission of the Council for the engineer to check his figures. He was confident of a desire for improved main road, and he proposed to call a public meeting to consider the matter. Patetonga and Lower Waitoa would not be expected to contribute.

Cr. McGuire said he was sympathetic, but the fairest way was for the Government to take control of the main arterial roads. The Council could then pay special attention to the backblock roads, the settlers on which were long-suffering. Ohinemuri roadis compared favourably with any others in the North Island.

Cr. Strange said it was- all very well in theory to define main roads, but how did it work out in practice ? Very soon the road 1 from Paeroa to Tahuna would become a main road. He advised) Cr. Keeling- to concentrate his anid his friends' energies in the direction of preparing an estimate of the amount ictf work required in his riding, and the cost, so that special loans could be gone in for, as Elstow district was doing. A scheme to metal each riding's roads was wanted. The dounty could only raise £5000 in each year/and if other parts of the county did not require that amount during the coming year his own riding would go for it.

Cr. Robinson expressed practically the same views. Kaimanawa riding had set an: example, and it was worth following.

Cr. Laughlin agreed, and suggested that Cr. Keeling had been dreaming in a railway carriage. He should have had a look at the back-block roads in North Aucklanld, as he had dlone recently. Cr. Keeling said he wanted to see the main roads laid down in a proper manner. Ohinemuri County roads did not compare favourably with leather counties, with all respect to Cr. McGuire's opinion.

Cr. Keeling's motion was lost,