DIVISION OF WAIMATE.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 31 July 1894, Page 2

DIVISION OF WAIMATE.

We have a copy of tbe plan showing the proposed wards in the Waimate Road District, also a copy of the petition which is to be seat round for signature. It is necessary under section 4 of the Road Boards Act to have the signatures of two-thirds of the ratepayers in the district, which we think will be rather a difficult task to accomplish. It is proposed to divide the road district into two wards, one to be called the Kaupokonui Ward and the other the Waimate Ward. According to valuation there would be six members out of the nine forming the Board returned by Waimate Ward, and three by the Kaupokonui or Bush Ward. According to the plan attached to the petition the division line runs westward from the Palmer Road along the block line about 60 chains below the Skeet Road until it reaches the Oeo Road, then it strikes up the line between blocks 13, Kaupokonui, and 14. Opunake, until it reaches the railway reserve, and then along the railway reserve to the Taungatara River. Our opinion is that the ratepayers in the proposed Kaupokonui Ward will be very foolish if they agree to such a division. With one-third of the valuation of the district they are asked to take the responsibility of three main roads, having the Eltham Road, Opu-nake-Stratford Road, and nine and ft-half miles of the Skeet Road thrown on their shoulders. We consider that the Skeet Road should be the boundary, so that a share of its cost would be borne by each riding- It is about four and a-half miles from the Skeet Road to the Main South Road, and all the country, with the exception of GO chains deep or so, is taken for the maintenance of the Main South Road, leaving tbe Skeet Road a very considerable burthen on tbe Kaupokonui Ward, and not sufficient rating territory to provide for it. If the Skeet Road were adopted as a boundary line from flip Palmer Road to the Patiki Hoad, and then a line continued between Sections 0 and 89, Block xiv, Opunake Survey District, and thence along the south-western boundary of that block to tbe Tangatara, we consider it would be a fairer division between what is called open aud bush. We cannot see tbe use of keeping the open or Waimate Ward all in one, and consider it should be divided at the Otakeho River and Anroa Road block line up to the Skeet Road. Then each riding would return its own member and be responsible for its own work.