The Wirokino Bridge.

Manawatu Herald, 17 October 1899, Page 3

The Wirokino Bridge.

— «. The Borough Councillors appear to have all their work cut out to finance the building of the Wirokino Bridge, unless this portion of the undertaking has already been put upon a sound footing, as the Manawatu County Council apparently does not intend to pay before completion of the work. If the Horowhenua County Council take up the same position the Mayor and Councillors will have to provide the whole cost, less the subsidy (one-half of the 'cost), receivable from the Government. With the finances of the Borough in the position the officials represent it to be, but with which we take this occasion to say we do not believe they are raising the necessary amount to satisfy the contractor, from time to time, will not be so easy a matter as it would be desired it should be. At the last meeting of the Manawatu County Council held at Sanson last week a letter was read from the Borough Council in which it was stated that progress payments had been made, and were about to be made on account of the erection of the Wirokino Bridge, and the Manawatu County Council was asked to pay a portion of the current expenditure. From the report of the proceedings it will be found that the Council decided to refer the Borough Council to " The Public Works Act, 1894." On reference to the Act it is evident the County Council is relying on sub-section f of section 113, which declares " the local authoity employed to construct the work shall execute the same accordingly, and shall on the completion thereof, make a demand in writing on any other local authority liable to contribute to the cost of the same, and such demand shall show in detail the cost of. the work and the amount demanded in respect of the same ; and if such other local authority shall not, within three months from the date of such demand being made, satisfy the same, the first-mentioned local authority may recoverthe amount, £c." We noticed that the Manawatu County Council received a letter from the Treasury at the same meeting, in which it was stated that the proposed loan on account of the Wirokino Bridge °f £850 was available, so that di^the County desire to assist this Borough the money was ready, but instead of immediately taking up the money, and out of it paying a proportion of the payments on account, the Council decided not to apply for the loan till next February !