WAIHOU RIVER CROSSING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5323, 7 September 1928, Page 4

WAIHOU RIVER CROSSING

CLOSING OF KOPU FERRY. CHARGES ON NEW BRIDGE. A cqiiference between the three local bodies interested' in the Ko;ni bridge was: held at Thames on Wednesday, delegates present being Messrs H. Lowe (chairman), D. Courtney, F. J. McMahon,, C. Winder, J. McCormick, D. McKay (clerk), Thames County ; E. L. Walton, J. C. Miller, s. A. Mahoney (clerk), Huuraki Plains County ; and W. Bongard, A. Bryan, and A. Chapman (town clerk), Thames Borough Council. The purpose o.f the, conference was to fix the basis of contribution towards the maintenance of the new Kopu bridge, and the disposal of the assets in the old Kopu-Orongd ferry. THE FERRY. Mr McKay reported that the loan raised by the Thames County was £3BOO. Part Cjf this was taken over by the Hauraki Plains Cojun.ty on its fqrmation. Certain subsidies were received from the Public Works Deparcment, and a donation was received from the Thames Borough. There was n balance, in the loan account of £lOl6 16s sd. The fcr.ry was in operation from May. 1922, to May, 1928. and the lincqme was. £2893 15,s lOd, while the expenditure, amounted to, £3lBa 12s lid, leaving >a. deficit of £291 17s Id. Mr Lowe said that seeing that in the early days of the ferry the opinion l , of the - local bodies was. that .the .ferry should be laid up, it was gratifying to find that the, business had been concluded with Such a .small deficit. Mr Lowe reported that the Thames County engineer had inspected the pontoon and had found it to be in gopd qrder. It had: been taken) over from the contractors and used. The launch seemed to be, in good order. Tlie other assets were the ramps and fittings, ;a;nd the ferryman’s residence. Mr Bryan moved that all! the assets be disposed of by tender. Mr. McKay mentioned that the Lands Drainage Department had inquired about the pontoon, which was desired for. the proposed ferry at Kaihere. The motion was seconded by Mr Walton and carried. The chairmen• c ; f the three local bodies were, deputed' to deal with the tenders. ' Gin .the motion of Mr Lowe the firm of R. P. Gibbons, Ltd., late ferry contractors, was: released from its agreement. Mr Lowe commended the contractors for. the. manner in which they had run the ferry, and also paid a tribute to the work of the ferry staff, the Morgan brothers. A motion oif appreciation was passed to Messrs R. P. Gibbons, Ltd. Details of the financial adjustment were left to the three clerks:, on th® basis of one-third if tihe loss to be found by each local hcdjy. THE BRIDGJE. The question'of tne maintenance of the new bridge was then ijiiseussed. A letter frogn th© Public Works Department stated that three-fifths of the operating costs. sn|d maintenance would be found by th» Main Highways Board. Mr Lowe advocated that the division be in the. same-.'proportion as, the contribution towards the’ construc-tion—two-fif,ths by the Thames Bojough, two-fifths by the Hauraki plains County, and onle-fifih by the Thames County. Mr Walton; agreed, an( j. suggested that the. approach roads be considered part of the the' bridge, as they were part of the capital cost of the. bridge. The Hauraki Plains representatives' were only deputed to co infer with the other, local bodies, and were to report to the Plains Council. He was agreeable to the approach roads being considered as from the J Paeroa,-Thames highway at Kopu to; t;he KopuarahiOrongo ferry road. Mr Bongard stated that the. question of mafutaiii'ing; the approach roads had not been considered by the Borough Council, it was favourable to the basis suggeste a for the maintenance Cjf the bridgi it itself, but the. reading proposal wo kid have to be considered. * It was agreed hat t/hie basis of contribution for the bridgo alone she,aid be as mentioned. Mr. Bryan, expressed the opinion that the bridgekeejyer should be given work, such as painting tihie bridge and maintaining the road. His would have a great deal of epare firnand in return for his wages (squid give some service which would oases the burden on the local bodies. The idea, was generally approved, but it w.a.s pointed o’ttt that for the first year the workin g of the bridge was the concern of th te. Public Works Department. LIGHTING THE S BRIDGE. ■Mr Bongard sugg< jsted that the bridge should be lighted. Mr Lowe, pointed ov it that the lighting of the approach i joads to th© old ferry had been cons! (Sered necessary. It was decided to, iinvestigate the point.