BRIDGING MIKONUI RIVER.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1917, Page 1

BRIDGING MIKONUI RIVER.

COSFRREKCK AT ROSS. A. dt'qiiitatioii from- tin* West In ml County Council consisting of Air. 11. Norman County Chairman, and Air. T. \V. Bruce, Af.C.C. for Totnra Hiding waited on tin* Ross Borough Council last night at the Coronation Flail, Ross, with respect to the project tor hridging the Mikonui River on the terms offered hv Alessrs Stuart and Chapman on behalf of the Sawmilling Coy. The Company has taken up large timber areas on the south side of the Mikonui river, and will carry on the industry, at. Ross, crossing the. river by a tramway bridge which it is suggested could he made available ior road traffic also by file local bodies the Government having failed 'to construct a traffic bridge as was at- one tithe hoped for. The members of the R.oss "Borough Council present were:—Messrs Grimmoinl, (Mayor), l.instrom, Moore, M uir, Black, and Cpjohn. Tlie AFayor extended a welcome to the visiting deputation. Air. Fl.* Norman County Chairman, made the following statement on the matter:—The proposal is for the Westland County, and Ross Borough Councils'to combine in an agreement with Stuart and' Chapman, whereby tin* tramway bridge they are about to erect across the Al'ikonui river might he converted into a road bridges for vehicle, stock and pedestrian traffic. The firm are prepared to do the required work with material aiul to a design approved by Overs e'er Milner for £1,500, ineldding approaches. The firm have, offered further to accept payment of the amount in annual payments of £123/7/3, spread over twenty years, the rate kit interest in this settlement being 0%. There is legal power for the two local bodies to join as proposed, by Section 119 of the Public Works Act, 1908, and they may agree, or deoim* by commission what allocation each should pay for the principal sum. To save time and cost of litigation, tin* County Council proposes without prejudice to its, position, that the Ros> Borough Council should nay one tilth of the principal sum of £l.ooo, linmoiy £3OO, and then enter into an agreement jointly with the sawmilling company on the same lines as the Counts Council. The offers in respect to the building of the bridge by Alessrs Stuart and man were submittted to tin* confeieneo. Accepting the terms in the letters and as above, AH'. Norman coatinued, the. ntiminl payments proposed would be divided as follows: Westland County. £9B 13s 9d annually for 20 years. Ross Borough, £2l 13s 6d annually for 20 years.

The limit of interest which a local body may pay. however, is fixed by section 27 of the Local Bodies Loans Act. 1913. and is there set down at .*r i o/ Off /O •

By reason of the two local bodies combining under section 119 o! the , Public Works Art. there is not any occasion for - a. poll to he taken in connection with the undertaking ol the work, and procedure o-s provided in tlie Local Bodies Loans Act. for a joint special loan, if necessary. Probably the local bodies will nrefer to act independently in lincTitig or paying for the quota of their cost of the bridge. \ As far as the County Council is concerned. if the present negotiation*; advance satisfactorily. "1 propose to suggest to the Council that the £1.200 navable be reonid in twelve years at the. rate of £IOO a year with interest not exceeding 5?i%. Tn that period of 12 years the County Council will repay the principal and a. total ol in interest, or an aggregate Mini' of £1629, equal to £135, 15/- PC' aimum. This amount I have reason to believe that the Council will be abb* t° .Pp. v without recourse, to levying a. special rate, though ' it will he necessary, probably, to strike a special rate as formal security to cover the borrowed money. In the same way if the Ross Borough accepts the proposal on similar lines the payments over twelve years would he £25 per annum, plus interest on the capital sum remaining. The' interest would aggregate £loi/;>/0 for the period or a total of £4oi/5/0 for the bridge making the Ross Borough, contribution for the convenience of the Mikonui bridge, an average annual payment of] £33/18/9' for twelve years These pavments would cover the provision of the bridge. As regards future maintenance, the local bodies would ho responsible. I take it. for the maintenance of the planking approaches ivs well as hand-railing and other extras placed in position for-Hie safety and convenience of road traffic. These charges the local bodies, it is suggested, should meet on the same basis ns the contributory cost, namely four-fifths County, one-fifth. Borough "Probably with the Ross Borough Council being so adjacent To the bridge. it would bo more economical for your Borough to take control of „tho structure so far as the upkeep of public traffic is concerned, but this is a matter which can bo referred to the Conference with the Public AAoiks Committee of the County Council when drawing up the terms of a- formal agreement with the Sawmill mg Company, and between the two local bodies, if the joint action be agreed to in the important matter. J think 1 hove covered the principal matters for consideration in the possible arrangement between the two homes, and now commend the matter to your attention, regarding it as of the utmost importance to all who wish to see the important river bridged. It the present opportunity to secure a bridge bo lost, it may he years- before another opportunity at nil . equal to tlie very public spirited offer of , the Sa-wxnilling £oy. is again the local bodies.

Mr. Norman concluded by strongly urging the project ior the favourable consideration of the Ross. Borough Council.

; Mr. Bruce supported the statement by the County Chairman and Spoke of the necessity for carrying out the work He referred to what had been urged (in. the past without avail. Now a bridge was to be erected by a private firm, and the opportunity was there to/utilise the structure ior public traffic. There was a contingent liability for local bodies in regard to ' bridges used lor public traffic,, whether 'conffinumis or even remote from their boundaries. lii the present instance if the local bodies joined as had " been suggested there would not be any necessity for a poll. He did not think it would be wise in the Interests of flflie c/omm unity to miss the present opportunity, Air. Grimmoml asked if the Sawmilling company would assist in regard to the maintenance. It was stated this would be a matter for arrangement when drawing up tlio agreement between the parties. ' Air. (-irinimoinl stated that the Government Kngincer bad not approved ol the design of the bridge .

Air. Millner, Ctmiit.V Overseer, explained that tin? reason was became tin*, proposed structure was not in accordance with tho Government standard for first class road bridges. Details of the work were then discussed in a round the table conference, and the plan of the proposed structure placed before the meeting. - was mentioned by a member of the Ross Council that some contribution towards the bridge should lie made by the Hokkitika Borough Council. Objection was made also to tho local bodies taking up tin's matter, as they would be expected to contribute towards other bridges erected on the main road. Information was further' required in regard to the. maintenance of tin* approach roads after construction, and also on whom would fall the liability of Reconstruction if the bridge were partially destroyed by flood: Replies were given to these general questions, it being explained that il the Ross Council were disposed to assist in the work, the details of the proposed agreement could he gone into with the Company’s representatives nl Hokitika on Tuesday when, the County Council would meet the millers to determine finally what could he done The Ross Council was invited to be represented at that meeting with a view to joining in the' work as had been proposed.

The deputation then withdrew being thanked for their attendance.

.•fuliseqiieiitly after discussing tin* matter, the Ross Council appointed Alessrs Griminond and Adamson to attend the final conference on the matter lit Hokitika on Tuesday forenoon next.

In connection with the work, and the. final decision of tho Council in the matter, a. special meeting will he held at the County Chambers on Tuesday next at 11.30. o’clock to decide on a definite course of action.