Aorangi Bridge Commission

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 107, 8 March 1892, Page 3

Aorangi Bridge Commission

Saturday, Marcu b. (Before Mr Brabant, Commissioner.) (Continued from last issue). Mr Prior for the Borough Council ad - dressed the Commissioner : He said a poll has been taken m the Manchester Board district and resulted in favour of the proposed bridge, therefore the ratepayers thought the bridge was necessary. The Borough of Eeilding agreed that the bridge would be a convenience to the surrounding districts. The Manawatu County ratepayers according to the evidence of Mr McKenzie, were also of opinion that the bridge should be built, then only contention being that their contribution should be less than the}' were asked to give. Mr Lethbrirlge, Mr Bull, Mr Bray,' and Mr Haybittlo had given evidence of the utility of the bridge ; Mr Bray had been an engineer 18 or IS) years and was competent to give an opinion as to the proportion each body should bear, and he would assess the borough at -]- of the whole amount ; they wove at present bearing half the cost of Mfiiime's bridge. Mr Grant would have His Worship believe that the proposed bridge would be of no use to the Manawatu district, but he thought His Worship would not come to that con elusion. The Feilding Borough Couucil were asked to do a certain thing and they consented, and whatever the award given should be, he thought the Borough Council should not be called on to bear a larger share than that already agreed to. Mr McKenzie for the Manawatu Couuty Council said this was the third enquiry he had attended before His Worship on business of this kind, and he would like on behalf of himself and Mr Eawson to thank the legal profession for their court--Bey towards them. Mr McKenzie then reviewed the evidence given. Mr Grant, on behalf of the Mauawatu Eoad Board, followed. Mr Sandilands replied on behalf of the Manchester Road Board. He thought his Worship would admit that it had been established that the proposed bridge was a necessity to the settlers abutting the bridge. It was also necessary for the storekeepers of Feilding and others as a convenience in dealing with their customers, and for the travelling public. The poll taken in the Manchester Board District had been favourable to the bridge. In referring to the " Amendment Act " he held that the word inhabitants meant the general public in the various districts, who would from time to time pass over the bridge. Reference was then made to the petition which had been presented by Mr Grant, contrasting it with . the value of evidence given m Court. If his Worship was satisfied the bridge would be a benefit to the various districts he would be quite justified in apportioning them with some part of the cost. He submitted that Mr Grant's evidence was useless, for whilst in the box he beat about the bush and did not endeavour to enlighten the Court as to several questions he was asked. As to the contributions, he thought it should be as follows ; Manawatu Koad Board, f>-20ths ; Borough of Feilding, S-'iOths ; Manawatu County Council, 3-20ths ; Manchester Road Board, 5-20ths; and other 2-20ths by the settlers in the Manchester Board on this side of the river. There was no truth in the suggestion that the three Local Bodies had put their heads together to put the Manawatu Board in for as much as possible. It was then arranged that Mr Grant should have the Mauawatu Road Board's books ready for inspection by his Worship at Palmerston next Thursday. The enquiry then closed. For continuation of Reading Matter see fourth page.)