PROPOSED NEW SETTLEMENT

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1231, 22 May 1947, Page 6

PROPOSED NEW SETTLEMENT

PERIA TO BUCKLAND ROAD Seventeen Further Farms A subdivlsional proposition which, it was stated, would provide 17 new farms between Station Road, Peria, and Buckland Road, was placed before the Matamata County Council on Thursday by a deputation representing the farmers interested. The deputation consisted of Messrs. H. A. Wagstaff, A. C. Tucker and G. Still. Mr. Wagstaff said they were asking for a road approximately five miles in length which would tap land suitable to be opened up by r the Government and which would join Buckland Road with Station Road near the Peria Hills School. The speaker stated that the road would enable a number of farmers to cut up big holdings and provide 2670 acres for settlement. Out of that there would be two sheep farms of 800 acres and 15 dairy farms in addition. All settlers were favourable to the scheme. The new road would be the only" means of opening ud the farms mentioned. The chairman commented that the first cost was roading cost. Farmers interested would have to meet in conference and consider the estimate of the cost of the road and so load the properties. A portion of land recently so subdivided was loaded £3 per acre for the cost of the road. Mr. WagstafE mentioned that the land would be given free for the road, and he felt that the Government and the council might give grants. The chairman stated that the Works Department might look at the area with a view to a grant as suggested, but the point at issue was why public money should be spent to benefit settlers who would gain by the subdivision. Mr. Wagstaff agreed, but thought that the scheme was not the same as a private subdivision but was one which would result in greatly increased production to the national benefit. There was very little if any ragwort on the area to be opened up by the road. The engineer estimated the cost of the road as not far off £IO,OOO, apart from the cost of the land for the road. The sum of £2OOO per mile was a suitable estimate for that class of country. Mr. Wagstaff stated that settlers favoured Butler’s pit metal as against Whitehall metal. He did not think that the class of road the engineer thought of was necessary. The chairman assured the deputation that the council would consider favourably any particular scheme which was based on business lines and was reasonable so far as the council was concerned. The survey alone would be fairly costly, and the council could not commit itself unless it was assured that settlers would consider the cost of the road, and also that of selling the sections or of creating new separate units on the properties to be cut up. Cr. Pohlen added that the main point was for owners to realise that they would have to bear the cost of the road. The clerk stated that during the last 16 years no county money had been spent in opening up new roads. The chairman added that the council could notify the Works Department of the proposition, through the Lands Department, and state that there was a possibility of opening up a new area for soldier settlement. Replying to Mr. Wagstaff, the clerk stated that the council had had only one Government subsidy in the past six years. Later, when the deputation had retired, Cr. Brinkworth stated that three of the properties had recently gone through the Land Sales Committee, and the Government then had a chance to take any of the blocks for settlement. One property had been so inspected, and thus he did not think the department would consider the area from a settlement point of viewA member pointed out that it had been admitted that some of the land had been bought from the Government for a song, and now the request was that the Government should assist in putting through a road so that they could Sell the land buck to the Government. „ / Without further discussion the council unanimously agreed that the deputation be informed that it was of the opinion that the settlers concerned should bear the cost of the road.