MANCOREI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13484, 25 July 1907, Page 8

MANCOREI.

(Fror.^ Our Own Correspondent.) THE CROSS ROADS QUESTION. A meeting of ratepayers representing the top end of the district was held in the Upper Mangorei Schoolroom on the evening of the 22nd to again consider the question of the cross roads. Mr F. Oliver, chairman, in his opening re marks, said the cross roads question had been before the district off and on for the last thirty years. In the first place it was proposed to put a road through the property known as Carricks, now occupied by Mr Phurston. After about £80 had been spent in felling the bush and clearing a 12ft. track for some reason or othec the work was abandoned. Some years afterwards a route was proposed through the land then held by Mr R. Baker, but this did not meet with the approval of the Chief Surveyor. Then about three years ago, at the request of the Farmers' Union, the Survey Department roughly sur veyed ajcross road from Barrett to Lepper Road, and great; efforts were made by the Upper Mangorei people to get the portion between the Mangorei and Carrington Roads opened. The estimated cost was about £1000, and it was proposed to raise a loan of £500 and ask the Government to give a subsidy of £1 for £1. This the Government did not actually refuse, but only put £250 on the Estimates, practically promising another £250 next year. So it was decided then to go on with the work. However, owing to several technical errors (which the chairman dubbed quibblos) the business was delayed for some months, and finally th Department refused the loan on the ground that the security was not good enough. Consequently that meeting had been called to decide whether any further steps should be taken. A proposal was then put to the meeting and carried that another attempt bo made to have a road made to connect Mangorei and Carringt6n Roads. Exception was then taken to the proposed route on account of the heavy compensation payable to the owners of the land. Several ratepayers wern of the opinion that a cheaper and more direct route could be found. It was pointed out that the district road known as the Old Junction, which has not been used (except as a horse track) for a great many years was a more direct route and that if a high bridge was built (say with thirty feet piers) the pinch would be taken off. And then by a slight deviation near the top of the hill a good road could be made with a grade of not more than one in twelve. This opinion was corroborated by several who had been to look at the road that day. After considerable discussion a proposal was carried asking the Board to have a survey made of the Old Junction Road. This is a question of considerable importance not only to the ratepayers at the upper end of th«> district, but also to those carrying on business in th*> borough. For several of these districts side by side extend from borough to radius line, with no connecting road between them, by which tradespeople can get from one to another, and it is evident that it does not pay to work them singly. Wliereas if there was a connecting road a trade cart could work one road going out and another coming in. We are living in hopes that the pre sent proposal will not share the fate of the- previous ones. . * • NEWS AND NOTES. The dairying industry is quiet at present, though enough milk is being supplied to keep the local creamery running every other day. As most of the suppliers generally keep a small win ter dairy, and are having a few fresh cows in now, the creamery will moit likely run right through. The Rifle Club has its hands fairly full at present. This is the only time when many of the members can get away from the milking. On Thursday last a match was fired against Tariki, but Mangorei took their opponents far too cheap, the result being a defeat by some sixty odd points. However, the final is to come yet.