SETTLERS WITHOUT ROADS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1934, Page 12

SETTLERS WITHOUT ROADS

THE QUESTION OF PRIORITY. CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL POLICY That it should be tire policy of the council to see, when framing the estimates, that road metalling works that were of the greatest benefit to a number of settlers were given priority in order of urgency was stressed at the meeting of the Clifton County Council yesterday by Cr. Barnitt. He pointed out several metalling works which he thought should be given priority. The works included Mr. Gibbs’ access road (Clifton Road), where threequarters of a mile required metalling. Three settlers had provided £l5O towards the work. They had been waiting for metal for 40 or 50 years. There was also the Uruti-Ngatoto Road leading into Tangitu, where there were 12 settlers, nine of whom were married and had a total of 14 young children. Many of the settlers were already paying two and in some cases three special rates, yet they had no metalled road. That district comprised 13,200 acres, carrying 130 dairy cows, 8350 sheep and 1100 dry stock. Mangahea Road, Uruti, of 2J miles, was another case in point; £3OO was available for the work.' In that district there were seven settlers milking 250 cows, and some of the settlers had been waiting for the road for over 40 years. Yet, he said, there was a probability that the Rerekino Road metalling, for which £B5 was available, a road serving 2000 acres paying £4O in rates per annum, would be done first. He considered it would be most unfair if more important roads had to stand aside. The chairman agreed with Mr. Barnitt. Over two years ago the settlers on Clifton Road had offered to find £l5O to obtain access, as two of them had no access. Some years ago an endeavour was made to have some of the other roads metalled. The council should place the works in order of urgency. The engineer said the roads mentioned had all been placed high in the estimates which, had been recommended by the district engineer. They would be done if approved at Wellington. Tikorangi Road had been cut out of thee estimates. Other roads included were Mohakatina and Moki Ro ads. Cr. Bamitt said there was. a danger that when Moki Road was being metalled the work on Rerekino Road might also be carried on prior to roads which in the interests of the settlers were more important. He therefore moved that the Public Works Department be notified that in the opinion of the council the order of urgency in which roads should be metalled was as follows: Mangahia, Clifton, Uruti-Ngatoto, Mangaonga, Faull, Kaipikari, Matapo and Tikorangi. . . , Cr. Rogers seconded the motion, which was carried.