THE SHANNON FERRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2880, 7 May 1925, Page 2

THE SHANNON FERRY.

PROPOSAL TO CHARGE FOR USE OF PUNT.

At Tuesday's meeting of' the Manawatu County Council severa Betters were received in connection with the punt recently installed on the Manawatu river to replace the bridge near Shannon that was recently washed a wav.

A letter was received from the Public Works Department, advising that as the Main Highways Board had decided the control of the punt should be a. purely local body matter. The Horowhenua County Council had been appointed the coni rolling authority. At- a meeting ■*f the 1 list ri*.-t Highways Council held on 20th March, the following resolution had been passed: ’‘That the council accepts the offer of the Main Highways Board to contribute one-half of the cost to the installation of the punt and one-third towards the cost of its operation, but considers that some charge should lie made to till parties using the punt, irrespective of the district from which they come. 'The writer staled that while lie understood the hoard was of the opinion that the cost of printing tickets, etc., and applying the necessary check to tile issue of these was not warranted in comparison with the revenue derived, it would not object to a levy being made if the councils concerned obtained an Order-in-Coun-cil to do so. Tile board’s maintenance contribution would still remain at one-third, the remaining twothirds being paid by the counties

concerned. A later letter stated that the Highways Board had decided to increase its subsidy' towards the cost of the installation of the punt from one-thin! to one-half, the Manawatu Council's portion to be twotwelfth. that of the Horowhenua county two-twelfths, Foxton borough one-twelfth, and the Shannon borough one twelfth. It was, howi ver, doubtful if the latter borough could be considered a contributing body. It was deei«led lo write to the Horow henna Council, urging that a charge be made to travellers using the punt. Further, it was decided to write to the Horowhenua County Council to enquire whether it was taking any preliminary steps towards the replacement of the bridge at Moutoa, and that the district engineer of the Public .Works Department lie informed that the council objected to the Shannon Borough Council being exempted from contributing one-twelfth of the cost. The non-inclusion of that borough, in the original agreement, it was stated, had been due to the fact that at such time it had not been raised to the status of a boi'ough, and the Horowhenua County Council had therefore been.payin Shannon's contribution since the ugh was formed. The present scheme was a new one, and should not preclude the inclusion of that borough.

A letter was received from the Public Works Department advising that the approach cutting on the right bank leading down to the punt on the Alauawatu river near the Shaiinon-Foxton bridge re-

quired widening so as to ensure satisfactory operalion of the punt when tlie river was running high.—Hie engineer was instructed to (•any out the work. *