THAT BRIDGE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1969, 28 January 1914, Page 5

THAT BRIDGE

. HUTT COUNCILLORS ANNOYED. Much is being said and .written at the present moment in regard to linking up the Mutt liridge with the Waiwecu j3ridge, and fulfilling the original of making a sliort cut to Day's Bay and adjoining districts, jot nothing is being done. At Monday . night's meeting of the City Council the matter was onto more brought up, and the Mayor remarked that nothing could be done till "they," meaning all, or some of the other local bodies concerned, 1 "came to their senses." At last night's meeting of the Hutt Borough Council, Councillor Dtwson inquired whether the Mayor of Wellington was referring to the Hutt Council. V "Are wo one of those who ;:io to 'eomo to their senses'?" he i quired. "Is this bridge, when open, going to improve the ratepayers in this b.:rough? Is it going to prolit the Hutt?" The Mayor (Mr. E. P. Junny) said that when the work was started a conference of various local bodies cur,culled had bacn held, and Messrs. I'eterkin and Baldwin attended 011 behalf *;f the Hutt, to discuss the question r.f liability. It was then agreed lliat the Hutt Council's share should bo £325. "Now Wellington and Petono won't contribute any more," continued the Mayor. ' "They are holding back to sco whether Hutt will pay something more. We have not been approached on the matter, although there have been letters in the papers about it. Now tl ey ore asking us to open the matter again, and givo more money towards tl>o v-ork. We havo not always got the iest end of the stick in other things," ccntinuod tho Mayor, and he instanced the ease of the Hutt. River, the council at present having to pay for the cost of its traversion throughout its .entire length. "In tho event of the r(ad being completed," concludod Mr. Biinnv, "the whole of its maintenance nili fall 'on tho Hutt." Councillor Kempthorne: 111 that case, wo arc doing our full/share. The Mayor added that they wni'd have to havo strong grounds to justify them in going back 011 the original arrangements. Councillor Ball intc-jected that the Gracefield Estate Syndicate was ar. tho bottom of this agitation, and ihe H.itt Council should not troublo alrjut the matter. Councillor Clendon remarked that it was against the interests <.f the Hutt that tho bridge should be opened. During tho discission Mr. J. W. M'Dougall, who was present at lite meeting, asked for permission, on. behalf of tho Western Hutt Ratepayers' Association, to speak. Mr. M'Dougall's remarks concerned a statement in one •of tho papers to tho effect 11; at tho Western ITutt ratepayers were anyions to break'awav from the Hutt Council's control. "As 0110 of the association," lie continued, "I resent this suggestion, and I am very glad to ho atile to take the opportunity to clear the Western T-Ti'tfc Association of the stigma ca«i 011 it." . The matter then dropped.