REQUEST FOR A BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4981, 31 May 1926, Page 2

REQUEST FOR A BRIDGE.

TEMPORARY CROSSING GRANTED. DIFFICULTY AT HIKUTAIA! A deputation of some hajf-dozen setters in the Kaimanawa. Riding of the Ohinemuri County Waited upon the Prime Minister at Paeroa on Thursday. In introducing the deputation Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., explained that in connection with the W.aihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Scheme it had been found necessary when widening and deepening the Hikutaia Stream to cut a deep ca,nal through private property to enable the water to escape more quickly. The effect of this canal had been the complete, severance of severa,! of the properties. The canal had steep sides and cattle could not cross from one part of the farm to the other. As a, consequence the ’farms ha,d depreciated considerably in value, the total acreage had been reduced, and much of the land .would be almost useless as a.n Intergral part of a farm unless a bridge spanning the cajial was erected. It was understood that the Public Works Department had promised that a bridge would be erected. Mr R. R. Morrison, Kaimanawa Riding member, explained how certain properties had been severed, and said that two settlers, Messrs Cameron and Miles, had their milking sheds on one side of the canal and their cattle on tne other. Within the next six weeks there would be nearly a hundred cows coming into profit, and the settlers were in a quandary as to what to do, as .they could- not get their herds to the home paddocks and sheds. The bridge had been projnised in January last, but nothing had so far been done.

In reply to the Prime Minister Mr O. G. Thornton, resident engineer, sa,id that plans and specifications for a bridge had been prepared, and it would take about six weeks to build the structure.

The Hon. Mr Coates explained that since the. premise had been made serious legal difficulties had arisen. It would be illegal For the department to spend money on the erection of a bridge an private property. He realised that a bridge was necessary, a,nd so far as he could see the only way out of the difficulty would be to build ■the bridge and validate the proceeding by legalisation later on.

The Prime Minister reminded Mr Samuel that the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement, Act did nOt provide for one penny of compensation being paid. Mt Samuel: “Then I submit, sir, the Act was very badly framed.” Mr Coates said that settlers had asked for and agreed to certain work being done by the department, and permission had been given the department to go where it liked. However, there were instances where the settlers who had given permission had since sold out. When the department had gone on with the Work the new sqttlers had objected. Mr Miles explained that owing to the severing of his land by’ the canal he; would be forced to relinquish his farm unless something was done.

The. Prime Minister said that the settlers had his sympathy, and he w’s prepared to take a reasonable; chanc: to assist them. He promised to at once communicate with his officers in Wellington in order to ascertain the position. He; quite realised that the matter was a serious one, and w.uld have to- be tackled at once. Instructions would be given to place a few stringers across the, canal, with temporary decking laid down in the meantime.