A BRIDGE AT AORANGI

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 46, 28 September 1886, Page 3

A BRIDGE AT AORANGI

TO THK EDITOR OF THK STAIt. Sir,— Referring to your leader on Thursday last about a bridge across •the Oroua river at Aorangi, and Sheep Farmer's letter on the same subject, I would suggest that a mceing be called of the settlers interested, and that the Mayor of Feilding, and the members of the Manawatu and Manchester Road Boards for the sub-divi-sions affected be invited to attend. I should be happy to come to the meeting also, and give any information in my power. The machinory is provided to raise the money, all that is required is the consent of the property owners beneficially affected by the bridge, to a special rate to provide the £190 a year required, and the consent of tho local bodies concerned to set the necessary machinery in operation to get a vote taken. I may explain at ©nee that there need never be any necessity for collecting the rate, as the amount to be met per annum could be paid out of the general revenues of the districts. For example— lf Feildiug Borough paid £50 a year out of the general revenue, Manchester Road Board £80, and Manawatu Road Board £60, the 5 per cent, interest required would be provided, and a public work of great importance put in hand. The Sandon and Carnarvon Road Board has little interest in the proposed work, and it would scarcely In- worth while asking for its co-oper-

ation

Under the provisions of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act the special rate now imposed on the Manchester Road Board District can be commuted to one half the present rate, so that the additional half penny rate necessary for the bridge would nut mean a liability equal to that existing at present, even if collected, which it need never be. There should be £40,0 0 worth of property beneficially affected by the bridge in the Manchester Eoad District, which would, at a half penny rate, secure the £80 a year estimated above, and the other local bodies will be at least in as good a position. It rests, however, with the people themselves to stir up their respective Boards, and the bridge can be made, just as the Gorge bridge now nearly completed, has been constructed. — I aui &c.. D. H. Macartiiuh.