The Wirokino Bridge.

Manawatu Herald, 16 February 1899, Page 2

The Wirokino Bridge.

» A rather animated discussion ensued at the Horowhenua County Council's meeting on Saturday last, on the above subject. The matter was brought under notice on reading the following letter from the Secretary of the Marine Department : — " I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th inst., in which you ask that a copy of the plans and specifications of the proposed bridge at Wirokino may be forwarded to your Council before they are approved, and in reply to state that plans have been submitted to Mr J. S. Fulton, C.E., and as he stated that the Foxton Borough Council and the Manawatu and Horowhenua County Councils are contributing to the cost of the work, I presume that he is acting for these bodies, and in such case he would appear to be the proper person to supply copies of the plans to them. "I may state that the plans first submitted did not provide for an opening in the bridge to allow for the passage of vessels, but as there were objections raised to a bridge which would impede navigation, fresh plans have been furnished by Mr Fulton, providing for a swing plan, and these will be submitted to the Marine Engineer for his opinion thereon." Cr Bartholomew said that a number of ratepayers had spoken to him on the matter of the bridge, and the general opinion appeared to be strongly against a certain portion of the county being specially rated for the erection of the same. The ratepayers wished the rate to be struck all over the county. Then, again, they appeared to be quite in the dark about the whole matter. They did not know whether the bridge would cost £5000 or £20,000, and he himself knew practically nothing about the bridge, which was being forced upon them against their will. Cr Kebbell's opinion was that the discussion was premature, as no poll had yet been taken. Cr Davies said that the Council had no say in the matter at all at the present. The Commission would sit and allocate the part of this county to be subject to the special rate, and they would have to accept their decision. The Council had agreed to pay onethird of the cost of the bridge, and the initial body in the movement would carry it through, despite anything the Horowhenua County Council might do now. The Chairman explained that the difficulty was that the bridge was to be built under Governor's warrant, and therefore no poll would be taken. He read the sections of the Public Works' Act dealing with the matter, and gave it as his opinion that the Commission would not sit, as no objection had been made against the bridge. Cr Richards was afraid that the whole county would be liable for the special rate, which would be unfair, and, besides, might jeopardise the raising of a loan for a bridge in another part of the county, should such be attempted in the future. Cr Kebbell agreed with Cr Richards , that if the whole county were rated for the Wirokino bridge it would be manifestly unfair to the Tokomoru Riding, where they had built their own bridge by special loan. He thought there would be no difficulty in levying the special rate required over the Wirokino Riding, or, at any rate, paying it out of that riding's fund. Cr Bartholomew said he did not object to the bridge going over the Manawatu, but they had no guarantee that it would not exceed the £5500 estimated by the engineer. His private opinion was that it would cost from £10,000 to £15,000. The special rate ] should be struck all over the county. He did not think the Council had bound itself to help the bridge. Cr Davies accused Cr Bartholomew of obstructing the bridge, because he did not want it to go across. It was ridiculous of Cr Bartholomew to talk in the way he had done, saying he knew nothing about the cost of bridge, etc. Besides, the amount involved was so small, that it was ridiculous to make such a fuss over the affair. Supposing that they never got a single penny for tolls, their County would only be responsible tor £45 per year for interest, and he himself was quite willing to lease the bridge for three years for £100 per year. (Cr Bartholomew : That would not keep the bridge in paint 1) In all probability | the Council would have to pay nothing or practically nothing for a boon which they had been trying to get for years. The Chairman said the estimate of £5500 was for the bridge alone, and they would have about 3 or 4 miles of approaches to make on the Foxton side. (Cries of No I and Rubbish!) The Governor's warrant was out for the erection of the bridge, although the Council had known nothing whatever about it, until it was placed on the table. Cr Kebbell then read the following resolution from the minutes of the

— , — __ — ~ ' — ■—••-"> bounty meeting held on May rith last. Kebbell-BartholomDw: " That this Council hereby agrees to the issue of 1 warrant authorising the erection of a sriJge over the Manawatu river, at Wirokino, the cost to be apportioned is per the terms stated in a paper left L>y the Mayor of Foxton with this Council on the 12th of February, 1898 md provided the Government grant a,^ ?übsidy of £ for/", and that the wholg^j^ loes not exceed £5500." This caused loud laughter from all tbe Crs (Cr Bartholomew joining in) md the matter dropped. — Otaki Mail,