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King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 611, 15 October 1913, Page 6

men 1 ;" sho::;al do \n?. woi'K. Mi- L. Jacob remarked that the Government evidently hsd its eyes on the Mokau as a tourist route by protecting the scenery on the banks. If the road were metalled and the river snagged, it would be possible to go from New Plymouth by motor, up the river by launch, and right through to the railway again in the one day. He thought the Government realised this. The motion was then put to the meeting and carried without a dissentient voice. On Mr W. D. Thomson's motion it was decided to forward copies of the two loregoing resolutions to the members for the Taumarunui and Taranaki districts—Messrs C. K. Wilpon and H. Okey—and also to the Waitara, Te Kuiti, and New Plymouth Chambers of Commerce. BRIDGE ACROSS THE MOKAU. The next matter touched upon was that of building a bridge across the Mokau river to replace the present inadequate punt service. Mr W. Jones was entrusted with this important question, and in introducing the subject he characterised it as the greatest blot on the roading system of the district. In this matter, he said, they did not propose to appeal to tne Ministry at all, and he then moved: "That this meeting is of the opinion that the time has come when the local bodies interested should make the necessary arrangements for the construction of a bridge over the Mokau river." In support he stated that in rough weather the punt had been compelled to remain stationary all day on many occasions. Stock that it was intended to take across had had to wait as long as a week, and*even a fortnight, before crossing. The damage so caused to fat stock, he said, was incalculable. He estimated that at least 2s per cwt. on all stock, an Is on every sheep, was deducted on all bought north of the river for this reason. In hia opinion, with the estimate of the bridge at £16,000, the rate to the settlers would be less than the annual damage done now to their stock. Another phase of the question was the existing risk of life, and he raen- | tioned that years ago there had been one drowning accident and several times narrow escapes had occurred. Continuing, he said the Government had promised that if the county councils took the -steps to raise the money required, it would subsidise to the extent of £ for £. This left £BOOO to be raised between the two counties of Clifton and Awakino, and the interest on that sum only amounted to £2OO a year for each county." Surely, said the spekaer the residentn of those counties would agree to rate themselves for that small sum; and it was just about time they made the move now in the direction of getting the bridge built. Mr W. J. Smith, in seconding the motion, said he could endorse every word that had been said regarding the disadvantage in not having proper access, and also as to the loss to the settlers. The bridge was very necessary thing, and the people should do all they could to secure its erection. In the general discussion which followed it waa maintained by Mr W. D. Thomson that the rating area might be extended right through to New Plymouth. He spoke very strongly in favour of the scheme, which, he said, they had been waiting for for seventeen years. Mr James Old thought the bridge was not such an important matter as the completiion of the road-metalling. A COMMITTEE SET UP. At the conclusion of the business the meeting elected a progressive committee to further the matters already discussed and also to watch the interests of the district in general. Mr Jacob, who proposed the scheme, spoke of the many advantages to be gained by the formation of a vigilance or progressive committee, and it was decided to adopt the proposal. The following were elected:—Messrs C. Leech, Walter Jones, S. A. Robinson, L. Jacob, J. Terrill, and W. J. Smith. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr Jacobs was elected chairman and Mr Jones secretary. In addition to the three main planks of the platform the committee intends to further the scheme for forming a medical association, and so secure the services of a resident doctor. Other matters under consideration are the clearing of the Mokau of the willows and the immediate pushing on of the Awakino "Valley deviation, between Awakino and Mahoenui.