COUNTY BRIDGES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4705, 30 May 1924, Page 2

COUNTY BRIDGES.

MATTER AGAIN BEFORE COUNCIL. PirißOA BRIDGE TO GO ON. '.At the special meeting of the Plains County Council on Wednesday a long discussion took place following a motion moved by Cr. Parfitt and seconded by Cr. Harris to the effect that the council should proceed to obtain tiie Govcrnor-Geiieral’s warrant for the erection of the Pipiroa bridge. The discussion was opened by Cr. McLoughlin, who asked how it was intended to finance the bridge. Cr. Parfitt said it was understood that it would be by a loan over the whole of the county under its bridge policy. Crs. Mayn and McLoughlin objected lo this contending that under the circumst.inces the bridges already erected wete being paid for by special rating areas, and that nothing had been done to consolidate these areas and spread the rate over the whole county. Tiie proposal was, therefore, most unfair, and one which they would strenuously appose. Cr. Mam pointed out that he had ■always opposed the bridges being county matters. The interests of all sections of the county should be protected, and in fairness to them Cr. Parfitt should first see that steps were taken to make the bridges already erected a charge over the whole county. Cr. Harris said he liad seconded the motion because he did not feel that the matter should be delayed any longer. The Public Works Department was asking what was being done. If the motion was carried iie would move that the Member of Parliament for the district be asked to get an empowering Bill making all bridges county matters put through Parliament.

Cr. Madgwick said he had been led to believe that the whole matter had been fixed up. Cr. Parfitt said that in bringing the motion forward he felt he was following the policy of the county. The Pipiroa bridge negotiations were at a stage where they should kc gone on with to keep faith with the other local bodies interested, and also the Government. ”

Cr. McLoughlin said tlie Thames people had been promised that the Pipiroa bridge would rot be commenced until the Kirikiri bridge was commenced. He would not agree to .starting it first, or before the Empowering Bill was through Parliament. He was of the opinion that this Bill might be delayed by Parliament if there was any opposition.

Cr. Harris disagreed wjth this view, saying that if the Governor-General’s warrant was granted nothing would stop th# Bill or the bridge. Cr. McLoughlin said that the only way, until the Bill was through, was to constitute a special rating area. Cr. Parfitt said that the Empowering Bill was only a red herring. He was sure it would go through just as ca-ily after the warrant was issued.

Cr. Hayward said that the council bad made the bridges county matters over three years ago, and he would hot go back on what had been done, hue was of the opinion that all the ratepayers should be put on an equal footing before anything else was done. Otherwise he was quite in accord with the proposition. If the negotiations with the other local bodies were upset the county would be the laughing stock of the country. Cr. McLoughlin said that if the council built the Pipiroa bridge before the Kirikiri bridge it would oe looking for trouble. He asked Cr. Parfitt to table a motion asking that the Governor-General’s warrant be issued for the Kirikiri bridge.

Cr. Mayn stated that only after the Empowering Bill was passed through Parliament would he support the application! for the warrant. After further discussion Cr. Hayward suggested that a icotion be tabled asking for the Empowering Bill. He promised it bis support. ' Cr. Harris, with the consent of Cr. Pa’-litt, held up the motion for the time being while he moved that the Member of Parliament for the district be approached and urged by the council to promote an Empowering Bill giving effect to the council’s bridge policy, namely, making all bridge- over the two rive s county matters, particularly’ the Puke and Orchard bridges. This .was seconded by Cr. Parfitt anrt carried. Crs. Mayn and McLoughlin urged Cr. Parfitt to withdraw his motion, but without avail. Cr. McLoughlin moved as an amendment that the first bridge to be dealt, with under the bridging scheme be the Kirikiri bridge. . Seconded by Cr. Mayn. After more discussion tie 'inent was withdrawn^ and_Cr.,HaywBru ; movcd?thaT'tTre application be made for the warrant subject to the passing of the Empowering Bill. This was seconded by Cr. McLoughlin, and after a great deal more discussion was put to the meeting and defeated, Crs. Hayward, Mayn, and McLoughlin voting for and Crs. Harris, Miller, Parfitt, and Madgwick against it. The motion was then carried, the grouping of the votes being the same. Cr. Nicholson did not vote on either occasion, and Cr. Hare was not present. THE ROMANCE OF CANDLES. HOW GOLDEN RAYS WERE BORN. We iiavc to go right past the days pf the Pharaohs to discover the origin of the popular household candle. In the courts of antiquity candles were the sole ilium inants. Even in the present time most people prefer the soft mellow glow of Golden . Ray candles to the glare of electric light and gas. Golden Rays don’t splutter or wilt. Hardened by special process, therefore, most economical. If you have any difficulty in getting your supply apply Auckland merchants.