DEPUTATIONS' REQUESTS

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17390, 30 March 1928, Page 5

DEPUTATIONS' REQUESTS

MINISTER'S PATIENT HEARING. FOR AND AGAINST KAUAERANGA THAMES TO TAIRUA CONNECTION A very patient and, in the majority of cases, sympathetic, hearing was granted by the Minister of Public " Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, to the various deputations which waited upon him last evening in the Borough Council Chambers. T-hey' may be like Gaul, divided into three parts. First, a request from an : -old settler of 86 years of age, Mr Cribb, for the erection of a bridge giving access to his property; second, a request , from some settlers that the PuririNeavesville track b e widened; and -third; a strong deputation asking that the Kauaeranga-Tairua road be completed. N Mr T.',W. Rhodes, M.P., introduced •all the deputations. Cribb's Bridge Granted. To the first, Mr" Rhodes introduced r-a brief outline of the position. How "fiMr Cribb had no other access to his property save by trespassing in that ■of his neighbour's and had himself "bought a strip of land and handed it to the Thames County Council, which had accepted dedication. After a full explanation of the cir- - cumstance's • the Minister" -promised, :after consultation with, Mr H. Lowe, • chairman of the Thames County Coun- . cil, to grant a subsidy of £2 for £1 if the Council would build the bridge. This, on behalf of his Council, Mr "Lowe agreed to. Puriri;Tairua Track.

The Puriri deputation was a larger "body, seven settlers attending, headed by Cr-D. Courtney, of the Thames County Council, and Messrs Graham (Pifriri) and Mcßeth (Hikuai). - Mr Graham.* indicated the various "bodies of settlers represented by his colleagues, and Mr Courtney read the following petition forwarded to him by •some of the'ratepayers of his riding:—"You are representing a section of -settlers whose properties have a fronts .age to the Puriri and Neavesyilie track ■and are desirous of urging the necessity of having this track so improved as to allow vehicular traffic The occupied area at present served by this track is about 6000* acres, and although many thousands of pounds lihave been spent in felling, grassing -and fencing, the land distinct tendency to revert to second growth or fern. Extensive experiments have .proven that the response to artificial .manuring is great, and is the solution •to second growth in this district. • "An area of 70 acres (C. Clark's) all .hill country of a similar nature as that through which this road passes, but which, has been systematically manured for some years, carried last sea.son 25 dairy cows and produced over' 70001 b. of butter-fat, thus showing the possibilities of the district under favourable treatment. "The track at present is only a bridle track and serves as a stock route for the settlers represented, £pd also for the ,Hikuai and Tairua districts. The .-settlers of the Hikuai and Tairua districts, backed up by the Thames business people, are asking for an outlet, -and amongst other routes suggested is one via Kauaeranga Valley, and we would suggest that before any finality .is reached tliat the Puriri-Neavesville route be investigated. "We would, point out that the area of good dairying lands at Hikuai is ..limited, and that the expense of road- . ing- by' way of Kauaei-anga. Valley is altogether out of proportion to the value of the lands to be served. The . greater portion of the lands in the .Kauaeranga is held as a timber lease .by the Kauri Timber Company, and is, we believe, to be handed over to the .Provisional State Forests, which means that no extensive settlement will take .place. m ' "We further state that even. if this land in the Kauaeranga wer e thrown open for settlement it would still re...main unoccupied, as.it is of a particularly rough nature and totally unsuitable for grazing, while the land traversed by the Puriri-Neavesville track is of an easy nature and is at present being developed and rated. "We suggest that as the settlers of the Hikuai and Tairua districts have the benefit of steamer service for their .produce and manures, that even if the Kauaeranga road were constructed no produce would be carted over it, as the cost would be too great, for freight ■ charges from Auckland to Thames, plus cartage from Thames to Hikuai and Tairua, could never hope, under the most favourable-conditions, to compete with freights by water. . -"We further suggest, that if the .settlers in the Hikuai and Tairua districts are provided with reasonable means of access, together with a good .stock route, to. the nearest saleyards, that this is all they can reasonably • expect, and we would point out that the market for their surplus stock is .at the Hikutaia'saleyards. The route we suggest would bring the Hikuai - and Tairua settlers 12 miles nearer to the saleyards, and at the same time would provide those settlers on this .side of the Ni-ange with a road enabling them to cart their manures and produce to their holdings at a reasonable -cost. The Ratepayers' Association has been advocating this route for some time, and has already pointed out to .you that the maintenance of the proposed Kauaeranga Road would be more than the ratepayers of the Thames County could possibly bear, and that .if constructed would not relieve the necessity of maintaining the present Puriri-Neavesville track, as this would : still have to be kept open to give our settlers an outlet, and provide a stock route for Hikuai and Tairua districts. "We would suggest that while-you •.are in the district you will allow us an opportunity of conducting you over this route and' pointing out its possibilities." - Cr Courtney was followed by Mr Mcße'tlv who adduced the following from J. R- McCall, hon. sec. Hikuai and Tairua Settlers'" Association: " "At a full meeting of the Hikuai and Tairua Settlers' Association, held in the Hikuai Hall last evening, "the question of an outlet, for the district was discussed. - "In view of the fact that a road is being constructed, giving a good out--]et via Whangamata, the Association .decided to abandon all requests for a

road via the Kauaeranga Valley, and the Minister for Public Works is to be asked to have this work carried out with all speed. "It was decided that an outlet via Waihi will quite satisfactorily serve the district, and another outlet, via Thames, is unnecessary. "The settlers do not to have two roads, as they feel sure, that the upkeep would be far greater than the district can bear. "I might mention that nearly every settler in Hikuai and Tairua was present at this meeting, -and the decision to abandon the suggested Kauaeranga route was carried unanimously. "As you happened to be away from Hikuai when the meeting was held, I am giving you this information, as I feel sure it will be of interest to you." After other settlers had given detailed accounts of the cost of transport of manures, etc., Mr T. W. Rhodes stated that the Minister would be able to see part of the. track in question on his journey. The Minister agreed that if arrangements permitted he would inspect the track on his return to Thames next Thursday. The Other Viwpoint.

Mr Rhodes, in introducing the third deputation, which consisted of Mr W. Bongard (Mayor), Crs Bryan, Donovan (Thames Borough Council), Dr J. B. Liggins and Mr J. Kernick (Thames Chamber of Commerce), Messrs' H. Lowe .and. D. Mackay (Thames County Council), and Messrs Devcich, settlers of Kauaeranga, said that in his opinion, the Kauaeranga- Tairua track would give the best access and would open up the most land. He thought that the Neavesville-Puriri people should certainly have -their road widened, but the main object must not be lost sight of—the good of the greatest number. It was four years since the Prime Minister, then Minister of Public .Works, had promised that the road should be completed, and the settlers were waiting for that promise to be carried out. Mr W. Bongard was the first speaker, saying: "The matter I wish to bring under notice for your earnest consideration is the advisability of further construction w,ork in respect to the ThamesTairua Road, via Kauaeranga Valley. "Sir, on your last visit to this town, representations were made to you ( in this connection, and you authorised, your Department to .undertake the formation. of this road. We know the work was promptly started, and, for some reason- still unknown to us, was almost as promptly stopped. ' "However, although the Public Works Department apparently ha<d occasion to change its views on the undertaking, I wish to assure you, Sir, we K have had no occasion to change purs. "As townspeople,- we believe-we caii rightly claim the back country to be our heritage, and in view of the substantial financial commititfents of the Thames Borough, amounting to approximately £260,000, we feel justified in asking the Government for favourable consideration of this proposal, which would link together the two coasts of the Peninsula and N make an avenue for trade between the respective communities. "In support of this, Sir, I am advised that upon your arrival in T urua a deputation of settlers will wait en you and} request the construction of this road, which I am given to understand, was promised to them before you took office as Minister of Public Works, upon the completion of the Tapu-Coroglen Road. "The road is important to Thames, because the settlers in the Hikuai,and Tairua districts are entitled to their nearest and natural centre and the proposed road is the best and shortest route to any town. At present the settlers are labouring under the greatest difficulties of access and high freights/ and are cut off from medical and hospital attention. We know of the changed attitude of a small section >of settlers in the Tairua district who now favour a discontinuation of this road route, but we feel this is not in the best interests of all concerned and the district as a whole.

''The proposed road, which will give reasonable means of communication and facilitate settlement, will strengthen the financial position of the County by bringing idle lands into use, 'increasing values for rating purposes in the Kauaeranga and. Tairua Valleys. "We understand the Government is heavily interested in the Hikuai area in respect of soldier farms and the dairy factory, and access by the proposed road will increase values and put its securities on a sounder basis. "The proposed road to Tairua is 12 miles shorter than to Waihi, and only eight miles remain to be formed. The route is quite-the best from the settlers'' point of view, and will bring Tairua within 31 miles of Thames, and Hikuai within 23 miles, and will connect up with the direct route to Auckland city, "It is essential for the dairy farmers on the Plains to have dry hill country for a' winter run for their stock to get the best results from their farms. "All land available and suitable for this purpose oh the western side of the Plains has been taken up, and no more sections can be got there. • • "The road through the Kauaeranga to Tairua would open up large areas of suitable land within reasonable reach of the Plians-. Settlers have had to drive their cattle to secure such grazing even beyond which is much too far a distance. "Heavy taxation and rating demands tliat the greatest possible yield be got from our flat lands, and this can only be accomplished with the use of adjacent hill country. "Opening areas of hill land will therefore be of material benefit to the whole district. "The areas under review are extensive and can be- quickly turned to profit. This contention will be supported by two speakers who have full knowledge of the locality. "We find ourselves in the unfortunate position of having many of our industrial undertakings at a low ebb at present. Our timber cutting has come to an end, our engineering firms are very short, of work, and have discharged a considerable number of hands. Our sewerage scheme is now completed, and many men will accordingly be out of.work by the end of this month. -We therefore anticipate that the unJ^ '(Continued on nest column.)

employment question will be very acute this coming winter, and such a work as proposed, would also find employment and give necessary relief. "In conclusion, we again commend our representations for your earnest consideration, and the Government's favourable consideration of this matter would give all-round satisfaction." Dr J. .B. Liggins, speaking on behalf of the Thames Chamber of Commerce, emphasised the fact that th e back country settlers desired to trade with Thames, but were unable to do so.owing to lack of access. This was proved by the result of the improved facilities of the Tapu-Coi-oglen Road bringing trade into the town. Above all, the disabilities of the settlers in case of illness must not be forgotten. Mr C. D. Wright, as a settler of many years' standing, traced the history of the route and gave it as his opinion that the eight miles yet to be completed would open up from 15,000 to 20,000 acres of country, capable of carrying from one to one and a half sheep per acre. He could not see any engineering difficulties in the way. - Messrs Devcich Bros, gave facts and figures proving the productive possibilities of the land. The Minister stated that he would inspect the track on his journey and would go thoroughly into the question. The party was subsequently entertained to supper by the Mayor.