AN IMPASSABLE ROAD

Southland Times, Issue 19516, 16 May 1922, Page 6

AN IMPASSABLE ROAD

MEETING AT OREPUKI. A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Temperance Hall, Orepuki, *>on Wednesday evening to consider matters concerning the Riverton-Orepuki road. Some 45 ratepayers from Tuatapere to Colac were present, Mr G. Kerse occupying the chair and Mr J. Horrell member for the Orepuki riding was present by invitation. ! The chairman explained the object of the meeting, showing the many years that had elapsed since the road was taken in hand by the Public Works Department. After many years of agitation, and after thousands I of pounds had been spent the district, was still without a through road —23 i chains being left uncompleted. Certainly they all knew the contract had been let for the work, and the Council deserved credit for the efforts it had made to secure money for this work, but through some unexplained cause the work was not let in time for the road to be completed last season. He considered that the meeting was justified in malting strong representations to the Council, asking them to get the road fascined at once to temporarily carry the traffic oyer the winter. TKere was pleny of good material near the spot and it would not be a very expensive job. Mr Kerse quoted several cases of hardship and suffering last winter, owing to people having to be taken urgently for medical aid and having to he driven 60 miles round when it should be done in 18 miles. Mr Horrell said he hoped the meeting did not think the Wallace County Council or himself were not just as anxious to see this work completed as each one present. Personally as soon as the matter was brought to his notice he ra~ng up the engineer asking him to go round and inspect the place in question. In reply he had a full report from the engineer.showing the whole cost of the work to date and that to complete the gravelling at this season would take 500yds more gravel than the original contract owing to the amount of maintenance that would be wanted on the roads that would have to be carted over, and that fascines would not do for the work, as the road had a high formation and when gravelled would be too high, but he was quite prepared to go on with the work if the Council would take the whole responsibility. Mr J. Dudfield and several Pahia residents stated that on most of the road, the flat and swamp part, there was not any formation left, and fascines were the only means of making a good bed for gravel, and on the short space on the higher ground they could easily be taken up again. Mr Horrell went on to explain the efforts the Council had made-to get money to go on with the road, and that eventually the money was only got by a guarantee of the whole country. He also showed that there is only £4O a year rates from the part of the riding that the road passed through. If they wished to forward a petition he would /bring it before the Council, but he did not think the Council would entertain any further proposed expenditure owing to the tightness of money and the fact that the Council at present had to be lenient with farmers as to their rates under present conditions. In any case they could not interfere with the present contractor, who had to stop owing to the bad season. Mr Laurie, the contractor, estimated the cost of fascining 25 chains at £55 10/-. Mr-Horrell said it was easy to dictate, but- they must remember this road had to be passed by the Government Engineer, as it was in the Public Works Department’s hands until finished and passed, and if the work should not be satisfactory and not passed, the whole cost would be thrown on the Orepuki Riding. The chairman reminded Mr Horrell that they were not asking for a permanent work or a lot of expense, but they had a right to expect the small sum mentioned to be spent on humanitarian grounds if nothing else, as he considered a life in danger of far more value. Mr Laurie suggested that if there was any objection to putting fascines on the middle of the road, why not put them along the side. They would not have to be shifted again. The chairman asked Mr Horrell if he would support a petition in favour of fascining the 25 chains. Mr Horrell said he would do what he could, but he could not get money where none existed. / Mr F. H. Wilson proposed and Mr J. Popham seconded a motion that the meeting advocate that the whole 25 chains oi unfinished road be fascined.—Carried. The chairman refused an that the meeting ask the Wallace County Council to have the whole road linked up with gravel, as it was a direct negative to the business in hand. It was proposed by Mr P. Keady, seconded by Mr E. Bone, that the following gentlemen act as a deputation to the next meeting of the Wallace County Council to support the motion: Messrs J. Dudfield (Pahia), J. Davis (Tuatapere), W. Pollard (Wakapatu), and G. Kerse (Orepuki).— Carried. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Horrell for his explanation of matters, and the brought the meeting to /a close.