WAINGAKE-MANGAPOIKE SETTLERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2634, 16 October 1909, Page 6

WAINGAKE-MANGAPOIKE SETTLERS.

DEPUTATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

A deputation from the WaingakoMangapoike road district waited upon the Cook County Council yesterday with a number of requests. The deputation consisted of Messrs H. G. Smith, H. R. Shanks, G. Osmond, D. J. Parker, and Tlios. Jex Blake, the last named acting as spokesman. Mr Jex-Blake asked that a man be appointed to work on the Mangapoiko Road on this side of Reay Station, and the Council promised to attend to the matter.

The deputation also wanted to know what had been done about the Papatu quarry, and the chairman, Captain 'fucker, explained the position, adding that under the circumstances it could not possibly be acquired at present. With regard to the deviation at the ford on the Arai at Te Pura, Mr JexBlake said that the crossing was at present very dangerous to travelling stock. The loss of stock when the spokesman was up there three years ago amounted to more than any rate could have come to. Land would have to be acquired to alter the road, and ¥ r Jex-Blake asked whether the Council would acquire the property if the settlers got sufficient signatures. The Chairman: What would the settlers be prepared to do? —They would pay a special rate. The Chairman : Then I should say the Council would acquire the property. With regard to a culvert on Mangapoiko Road that had been washed away it was stated that the Engineer (Mr Fraser) was attending to the matter. After complaining of the state of the road between Makaraka and Matawliero, the spokesman called attention to the weir the .Borough Council had placed over the river. This he said constituted a danger. The Chairman said that the Borough Council held that the weir was not too high, and they had been legally advised that nothing could be done in the matter. With regard to the Makaraka road improvement, Captain Skinner thought it must come, but at present the Council had to be extremely careful as to what work they undertook. As soon as they had funds at tneir disposal to improve the road they would do so. The Chairman suggested that the deputation should decide on its special district and get the necessary signatures —representing, three-fourths of the ratepayers and half the rateable property—to a petition for a loan in respect of the To Puia deviation.