PIPIROA BRIDGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5203, 14 November 1927, Page 1

PIPIROA BRIDGE.

DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL.

PROJECT DEFERRED.

County Council supporters of the Pipiroa bridge proposal took advantage of an opportunity presented at Tiiuisday’s meeting of the, Plains County Council to advocate the early erection of the bridge. In his report the engineer state.d that he had gone into the suggested easing of the grade on the Pipiroa ferry approach, and woultl estimate the total cast of a 3ft. reduction at £B5. By using the old timber from the Gumtown breastwork the total cash outlay could be kept within the above amount. He had been informed by the ferryman that there had been very littlq inconvenience owing tosteepness of grade since the fer 1 v bad been running.

Mr Parfitt pointed out that heavily laden vehicles avoided the ferry, and this probably explained why the ferryman had not received complaints. The chairman said that the point was whether the ferry was to be. permanent or whether the council was of opinion that a bridge should be erected.

Cr. Miller said that if the improvement desired was effected the council would get more revenue.

As a means of testing the feeling of the, council on the bridge question, Cr. Harris moved that steps be taken to acquire the land required for the bridge approach. The chairman pointed out that this was not the subject before the meeting, and on his suggestion the ferry question was deferred until later, it being agreed that the bridge question be discussed in the meantime. This motion was carried on the chairman’s casting vote. When the matter came up at a later stage the clerk read the previous resolutions of the council on the subject. These referred to offers of land for the road.

Cr. Harris said that it would be unwise to expend money on the ferry if the bridge was to be erected in a short time. The necessity for a bridge was steadily increasing and was likely to increase, especially when the Hauraki bridge was opened. He moved that steps be taken to acquire that land required as an approach road on the Kppuarahi side.

Cr. Parfitt seconded, and said that there, was no doubt the bridge would eventually come, and steps should be taken to acquire the land. Cr. Madgwick said that the motion came at a very inopportune time. The ink was hardly dry cn tne ferry payments.

Cr. J. A. Reid moved that the matter of the bridge be held over for the time being, and that the engineer report on the economic necessity for improving the ferry.

Cr. Mayn said he was tired of hearing about the proposed Pipiroa bridge. Over £l3OO had just been spent on tne ferry, and in his opinion if the bridge was postponed the State would make a larger contribution when the necessity for the link became more apparent.

Cr. J. C. Miller could see no harm in acquiring the land which would eventually be, required. There was nd doubt that the ferry approaches required improving.

Cr. J. A : . Reid pointed out that the cost would have to be borne by the general account, which was now up to the legal limit of £9OOO, and the position was not likely to improve for some time.

Cr. Hicks pointed out that even if the council decided to proceed immediately with the ' bridge the improvement should, ii’ necessary, be done to the ferry, whi ch would be required for several y ears. He was against the farmers having to pay for bridges for the travelling public. The travelling public ’werq paying for the ferry.

Cr. Madgwick sa.id the statement that the Highways "Board would force the issue for the benefit of the travelling public could hot carry any weight in view of the section ofi unmetalhd road beyond Waitakarurtf under the control of the Highways "Board. He was very much against loading already overburdened ratepayers with further bridge rates I '.

Cr. Reid urged that if the council had money to spare for acquiring a section which would not ba required for many years it shmuld give attention to those bridges in Waitakaruru which were poeitively unsafe for traffic.

The amendment was carried on the votes of Crs. Fisher,. 1 Reid, Hicks, Madgwick, and Walton., Cr. Parfitt then imbved another amendment, to the effoct that the improvements be undertaken at once, and this was carried without dissent.