KIRIKIRI BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4316, 12 September 1921, Page 2

KIRIKIRI BRIDGE.

DIVERSITE OF OPINION;

COUNCILLOR FAVOURS ROADS-

AS FIRST ESSENTIAL.

The proposed bridge across the Waihou River at Kirikiri (Thames) came up for discussion at a meeting of Ngatea residents and Thames business people, held at Ngatea on Saturday, Mr W. G. Hayward, president of the local branch of .the Farmers’ Union, being in the chair, Mr Danby asked the Plains tp assist Thames, and Thames woultT assist them. A bridge across the Waihou River at Kirikiri would assist both parties. He asked if the union would co-operate with Thames' in this object. He hoped Ngatea would render what assistance they pould in the matter.

Mr Hayward said 'that the’Farmers’ Union had never discussed that question before. The opinion was divided in Ngatea as to whether there should be a bridge, and if so, .where it should be. The farmer, thought more of the roads on which he had to travel every day than of a bridge he used once a month. A bridge would benefit the Plains as a whole, and Kirikiri would be the best place for it. Eut he was right out for roads. (Hear, hear.) If he wanted tp go ,to Thames lie would go. But he used the factory road seven times a week.. PAEROA-POKENO RAILWAY. Mr Johnstone that the PaeroaPokeno railway would be of great benefit to the district and if the farmers wanted the railway they must get moving. “Tell the Government to put the railway through, but don’t tell them where to put’it,” said he. There was a movement to duplicate the line from Auckland ’tp Hamilton, and if the Plains people got in before that they might get their railway. URGING UNITY. Mr Davidson said it was not fair to saddle the rising*, generation for what the old settler had done. If they were not going to pull together they would never get along. He urged for better roads. As time went on, if he saw that Thames supported them, they might help tp get a bridge at Kirikiri.

Mr Rhodes said there may have been some misapprehension. He referred to raising the loan for a certain work. The Kiirikiri bridge was one which served a much wider area than Ngatea, though Ngatea served a wide area. There had been difficulty and delay. The necessity of it was greater to-day, and ft was a matter of life arid death to the 1 district. It would give better and quicker communication. He wished to see the district pulling together. Ferries were not satisfactory. Every promise given for the Ngateabridge was carried out.

Mr Johnstone said that when taking the poll lor the area, every objection, had been left out. The Ngatea bridge was a far more important bridge than the proposed one at Kirikiri.

Mr Danby said the Chamber had interested itself in the formation of roads and had assisted in several problems. That problem was a district . problem. They should work from a district point of view and not from a -parochial point of view. They had pome to remove any mis-ideas. They were to be one with each other. Mr Johnstone : “If we had the Kirikiri bridge, it may be like the Kopu ferry.”

Mr. Davidson .thought the farmers should be careful what they were doing with regard to bridges. The farmers were crying out for bridges at every corner. They might hot. get any at all.