GAP IN CARRINGTON ROAD

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1933, Page 6

GAP IN CARRINGTON ROAD

COMPLETION OF METALLING OFFER TO CONTRIBUTE PART COST DECISION OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL LIMITING OF TRAFFIC ON CLAY. In order that the work of constructing the gap in Carrington Road between > Pitone Road and the Momona Stream might continue the Taranaki .County Council decided yesterday to offer to contribute up to £5OO toward the cost of metalling, estimated to be £2600, in view of representations made by the district public works engineer (Mr. P. Keller). It was agreed by Mr. Keller that the "whole of the county should contribute in kind by providing thJ plant and the council decided that the balance of the sum should be contributed by the settlers interested, assisted by a contribution of 20 per cent, of that amount from the riding. When a deputation from the council met the Minister of Public Works on June 6, wrote Mr. Keller on June 13, the Minister advised the council that he was prepared to look favourably on the completion of the section ci rington Road from Pitone Road to the Momona stream, but he considered that it was reasonable for the council to indicate what assistance the council was prepared to give toward the cost of the metalling as he pointed out it would be absolutely useless to forr.. the road right through unless it could be metalled. '. The Public Works Department was holding up the question of the issue of authority for the work in the meantime, pending receipt of the councils reply, i and, as he had already advised the council verbally, x the fact that a certain amount of work was being done at the present juncture must be regarded purely as an emergency measure owing to the hold-up of the department’s metalling programme due to winter conditions, and must not be regarded as an indication that any different progress would be made with the work in hand. Mr. Keller felt sure the only way a satisfactory policy could be established was z by the council making an earnest endeavour to find some definite amount of assistance toward the cost of the metalling. OPENING NEW COUNTRY.

Cr. S. Vickers said the road would open much new country and would appreciate the. value of the land. He wondered if by some method a small special rate could be struck.. The first question was the amount the council. could offer. Then the council' would have to see if the money could be financed over a period of years. Cr. W. A. Thomas pointed out that the policy followed by the council was that for any new metalling work the settlers had to find the money or pay a rate. Cr. Vickers mentioned another aspect of the matter. If the work were done it would lighten the riding’s payments for four or five years. . Mr. Keller, who was present at the meeting, said development of land had taken place already as a result of road making. Cr. Thomas asked if there was any way of levying a special rate. He thought that if the settlers wanted a road they should be prepared to be . rated for a certain amount.

The council had the power to levy a rate for the purpose, Mr. Keller said. Cr. J. S. Connett, the chairman, suggested the settlers might find 20. per cent, of the sum the Council would offer, which he suggested should be £5OO. The land was on a low valuation and a heavy rate would have to be struck to raise the money from . the settlers. He suggested that the whole county might ease the charges upon the riding •and the settlers concerned by contributing in kind, allowing the use of the council’s plant. To this Mr. Keller agreed and the council resolved to supply the plant for crushing the metal for the piece of read in question at the cost of benzine, running expenses and repairs. TRAFFIC ON UNFINISHED WORK. A further letter was received from Mr. Keller on the subject. With regard to the work of metalling the Carrington Road , gap now in-hand he wrote that owing to the adverse Conditions resultant upon continued wet weather, and resulting in a greatly increased cost of the whrk, he was reluctantly compelled to suspend metalling operations for the remainder of the winter. In fact of the unusually, wet weather prevafling throughout the autumn and early winter he had endeavoured to push at least the Dover Road work through to completion, but the rapidly diminishing sum made available for it was insufficient. While it was not his practice nor desirable to prohibi' the use for traffic of these unfinished portions unutil the work was resumed again, Mr. Keller asked the council to take, such precautions in restricting it as to ensure as little damage as reasonably possible arising from’ its use. In the matter of the crushing plant engaged on the work Mr. Keller asked if the council would arrange: either to withdraw it or lay it up during the period of postponement. . The suggestions made in Mr. Keller’s letter were agreed to by the council. , The completion of 30 chains of metalling on Carrington Road to the Katikara bridge was the subject of a deputation from the directors of the Patua Dairy Company. Mr.- S. Hawke, who headed the deputation, said there were about 10 suppliers to the Patua factory who would have no means of sending their cream supplies to the factory unless the ’ metalling was completed. The road appeared in good condition and was thoroughly dry when they paid a. visit to it the previous day and permission was sought to use it. Mr. Keller said the department had been trying to complete the unmetalled part and it was with great reluctance that he was compelled to stop the work on account of the weather. The foundations of the road were very bad. Several attempts were made to metal as much as was possible. He suggested that if the road were in. as good a condition as the directors said it was it would be usable in September. Mr. Hawke pointed out that under a new regulation suppliers who began taking their cream to Pihama in August would be compelled to do so throughout ■the next season. The suppliers concerned did not want to have to do this and the company did not want to lose them. The department was only awaiting the resolution of the council to apply for authority to proceed with the metalling, Mr. Keller said. The suppliers would be allowed to sledge their cream over the unmetalled part and if the department had to stop the use of sledges it would guarantee to cart the cream over the'gap by usixig the metal lorries.