MURIWAI-TE ARAI ROADS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2478, 17 April 1909, Page 3

MURIWAI-TE ARAI ROADS.

DEPUTATIONS TO THE COUNTY . COUNCIL.

Messrs. A. J. Faulkner, G. J. Black, J. Redstone, and a number of Muriwai residents vvated upon the Cook County Council yesterday to ask that the Te Arai main road to Muriwai should be joined to the Pakowhai road, so as settlers should not have any need to use the sand hills and beach road that passes the Muriwai Hotel. Mr Claude Williams said the sand hills acted as a serious block to both vehicular and stock traffic. The cost ol : forming the deviation asked for would lie about £2OO, and Mr. Redstone would prefer taking bis coach round the deviation in preference to using the sand lulls. It was thought a Government grant might be obtained towards the cost as the road was the main road to Morere. The formation was all solid and the land almost flat and if tlie deviation was made.a large number of settlers would be benefitted. The Chairman said tlie Council would consider what had been said. Ihe work seemed desirable and was one that ought to commend itself to the Government for a grant. 'I lie deviation would be of benefit if it could bo made, and he was sure the matter would receive full consideration from councillors. .... Cr. White said the deviation had been surveyed. The deputation, only asked that the road be formed, and the cost would be less than metalling the sand hills. Mr. Williams added that there was.a plentiful supply of good metal within three miles of the road, arid that if the road was made the settlers would fence it off. Only one creek would need to bo bridged. Cr. White moved that the Council use the first funds available to put the road through. Cr. Lysnar seconded the motion. The Chairman said the Council could not pledgo funds in anticipation. He thought the necessity of the work should be strongly represented to the Government. Crs. Sherrat and Holden agreed with the Chairman. Cr. liVsnar: The work cannot be undertaken until next summer, and the money can be taken out of next year s rates. The Chairman: That is totally different to the resolution. Cr. White then withdrew las original motion, and moved that the work be provided for in the engineer’s estimates next year. The Chairman moved that the Council also place an urgent request before the Government for a grant for the road. * . The motion was carried. Mr. Williams thanked the Council for their favorable consideration of what had been said, and expressed the opinion that the settlers would be satisfied if the road was formed next year. The deputation then withdrew. ARAI SETTLEMENT ROADS. Mr. J. W. Bright introduced a number of settlors from Te Arai to ask the Council to push on the metalling ci the settlement roads. The season was getting far advanced and it was desired that the work would be improved before it became a veritable bog an the wintertime. It was hoped- that metal might be broken so as to be put on as early as possible. Ihe value oi ■ |,e property had been increased, aucl the revenue to the Council would be increased in proportion. The Chairman: All deputations say they pay large revenue and receive nothing in return. The clerk said the Council s revenue on the estate had only increased about £IOO. e "" Cr. Slierratt: The deputation should be told that over £6OO had been spent on the road. . Cr. White: The money was all spent) oil the upper end of the road and something should be done to the lower end of the road. . Cr Slierratt: There are worse roads that have not had a penny spent upon *Cr' Lysnar said he thought the Council should do something to make the road passable. Cr. Holden : The Council has nothing but requests from the Te Arai settlers Phis makes two to-day I have seen the road, and I don’t think at worse than many other roads. There are settlers of ten and twenty years who should bo considered when we have money to SP The Chairman said he had every sympathy with the request of the deputation. The Council had no money, and therefore could not make a grant, but t!m engineer would be asked to take the work into consideration when the estimates were being prepared. M r . Bright thanked tlie Council, and the deputation withdrew.