TOLAGO BAY BRIDGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1080, 23 December 1903, Page 1

TOLAGO BAY BRIDGE.

Tho members of the Cook County Council interviewed Mr Carroll yesterday morning in regard to tiro Tolugo Bay bridge and other matters. Tire Chairman, Captain Tucker, said tho Council had decided to further as far as they could the desires of tho settlers interested. Tho Government had been asked to undertake tho preparation of plans. Mr Carroll said that the votes granted should bn spent as far as possible during the summer mouths. The general opinion of Cabinet was that the expenditure should take place in tho dry months, as a pound in summer would get results which might take two pounds in winter.

The Chairman wantod to know if Mr Carroll could givo them assistance towards getting the grant for Tolago bridge. It seemed that when a grant was passed, and the Council stretched out their hands to take it, tho money was withdrawn. The usual documents wero sent to tho Council, but the next thing they heard it was withdrawn.

Mr Carroll said that hitherto tho control in regard to these votes had not been satisfactory. The estimates themselves got into a mess owing to votos lapsing, liabilities coming in, and fresh money being added. When the Roads and Bridges Department was transferred to tho Hon. Mr Hall-Jones, as Minister of Public Works, ho wantod to get a clean slate. His system was good enough, and ho wantod to get on live money. Tho Chairman then asked if tkoro was any guarantee that the Council would get tho votes.

Mr Carroll said if the clerk put down the votes in tho order of urgency ho would send them to tho Minister asking that they should bo spent in tho summer months. Tho money bad to bo authorised by the Government, and most cf tho votos would come to the loual bodies. In regard to tho bridges north of Tolago, Mr Carroll said that thoro was a vote of £3OO for the road, which could be made available. Tho Chairman said that a strong effort should bo made to got tho Tolago bridge started. Tho settlors had been very disappointed that no steps bad been taken. Mr Carroll said tho Council had enough money in hand to start the bridge. The old grant had boon ro-voted, and tho Tolago peoplo had undertaken to borrow £2500. The Clerk : We havo £3500 available to day, but we want the plans. Or Murphy said Mr Hursthonsc, Chief Engineer, had told them he would prepare tho plans, and probably supervise tho structure. Thoy wero waiting for the plans. The Chairman suggested that Mr Carroll could communicate with Mr Hursthouse on tho matter. Regarding th 3 lapsing of votes, he thought there must be sumo way of seizing these votes that the Council did Dot take. The Chairman urged tho advantage of improving all roads diverging from the railway line. The settlers were quite willing to assist themselves by loans, but it was not now so easy to got tho money. They got so far and then found somo little thing sticking them up. Mr Carroli replied that in applications for loans there were forms which must be adhered to. It these wero complied with, ho did not see that there would be any difficulty.

Reference was made to tho Wairoa road deviation (To Aral), for which £2OO had boon voted. Cr Clayton said that when tho grant originally came it was for metalling, widening, and forming tho road, which had not been surveyed. There were a lot of delays, nnd ultimately the voto lapsed. Now it was re-voted, and the Council found they had to undertake the survey. Could tho Government do this ? Mr Carroll asked if the County Engineer could not do tho work. Tho Chairman said Mr Fraser could do it if he neglected other works. Mr Carroll said he would try and see if

the Department could undertake tho survey.