MOKAU FERRY PUNT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 553, 26 March 1913, Page 5

MOKAU FERRY PUNT.

A question of considerable moment to the settlers of the Awakino and surrounding districts was discussed at the council table of the newly-formed Awakino County Council last Saturday, and the resolution unanimously carried by that body is a reflsx of the whole of the county. The tenders now being called by the Public Works Department for the construction cf a new ferry in place of the present one was sprung on the settlers as a surprise, and the fact that the opposition to the spending of public money on the new punt is so unanimous the department is entiled to at least give ear to the protests, and de> fer final acceptance of any definite settlement of the question until settlers discuss same. The fact that such a substitute as another punt is proposed will not relieve the situation, and the settlers are convinced that any money spent on the lines as now called for (if proceeded with) must defer the construction of a bridge for an indefinite period, a step which we hope will not be too long delayed, seeing that such a bridge means the linking up of two of the most important Taranaki and Auckland. The discussion at the council table while not argeed as to the need of a bridge, was decidedly opposed to spending money in view of thd fact that the present punt failing the bridge —will be tolerated until such times as the finan cial stringency is relieved. The prevailing idea amongst settlers is that the bridge should be a national undertaking—free for the use of all and sundry—but the settlers would welcome the bridge and are prepared to pay their proportion towards the liquidation of its construction by way of toll. The delays and inconvenience caused at the punt are exasperating., and with rough weather loss of cattle and valuable time is the order of the day. Such a mere question of hours sent in shipping a small flock of sheep (which is a necessity), and to this delay must be added a cost of so much per head for crossing. J Thß question of paying a toll for the use of the bridge would at any rate mean hours saved in waiting for the privilege of paying for crossing the punt. The cost of erecting a bridge would be fairly heavy, but the wishes of the settlers in asking for a delay in order to, carefully consider the position should defer the actual acceptance of any tender under present intentions of the department; and the support of all the adjacent counties is being asked for in the direction of delaying further expenditure unless such improvements are determined on for means of, direct transit, along away with delays now so prevalent. The great feature ill connection with the agitation against the proposed new punt is not so much one aiming to secure a bridge at the present time, but one of objection to the expenditure of some £2OOO, which expenditure would indefinitely block the erection of a bridge for years.