CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 229, 6 September 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.) GLADSTONE ROAD BRIDGE. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—As my statements relative to this matter were so directly contradicted at the public meeting last night, I would ask you to reprint the following report of the Council’s proceedings from the Evening Herald of March sth. The report may be deemed thoroughly authentic, being from the wellknown shorthand reporter of that paper, Mr. George Adams. I need not comment upon the matter as I am perfeclly clear as to the action taken by me throughout the transactions, and leave facts to speak for themselves.—l am &e., T. W. Porter.

At a special meeting of the Borough Council last night to consider the Turanganui Bridge, the Mayor said : There being some doubt in the matter, on Saturday last I sent this telegram to the Minister of Publie Works :—“ Re grant of £1.500 for erection of Turanganui Bridge, vide letter No. 563. Owing Cook County Council withdrawing their application made jointly with thia Council for construction, same leaves Borough deficient about £lOOO. If County renew their application under 18 sec. of Act, contributing £250, will Government supplement £750 ? Borough most anxious to assure itself of Government liberal grant and proceed with work at once. A decided answer is not expected from you, but if reply favors possibility of further grant in due course, work can proceed without delay. Please reply for information of Council meeting next Tuesday.—T. W. W. Porter, Mayor of Gisborne.” The following reply to telegram was received: — “ In reply re Turanganui Bridge, no further grant can be made out of funds for this financial year; but I see no reason why balance should not be granted out of next year’s funds if you make application in due form before the 30th June next.—E. Mitchelson, Minister for Public Works.” Taking that Ministerial reply we may assume that the grant will be given .... If we or the County Council produce £250, we now know we can get the £750. . . . Therefore I do not think we should hesitate in proceeding, but start at once. The £250 in any case would not come from the borough ratepayers. If the County Council will not give it, I will get it from ratepayers in the county and possibly some in the borough—if not I trill hold myself responsible rather than ask the borough to pay for it. We are now fully warranted in going on, for the Government after that reply will consider that we shall not be left in a false position. Cr. Smith—But shall we not be still a £l,OOO short ?

The Mayor—No. £4,000 was simply put down as an outside estimate. I find the same bridge can be built for £3,000. There was £6OO or £BOO worth of earthwork set down in the original plan. £3,000 will construct the bridge. Cr. Tucker—lt ought to. If it comes to this, that the burgesses are to pay no more than the £5OO, let us go on by all means. The Mayor— lf the County Council fail us, f can say-the £250 will be forthcoming—that it will not come from the borough ratepayers. One gentleman has promised me £100; I know another who will give £5O; and I know several others who would contribute. I know -everal gentlemen in the Borough, who, for business reasons, would contribute. But I think we shall get it from the County Council now, seeing how definite it is. Cr. Smith—l do not think they will evade it now.

Cr. Tucker : I move, “ That, on the understanding that the Turanganui bridge shall cost the burgesses nothing further than the liability of £5OO, already incurred, the work to be undertaken without delay.” Cr. Smith: I have much pleasure in seconding it. I think, under the circumstances, we must all see it would be foolish to hold back now, after the very favorable reply from the Government, and after the more than liberal guarantee given us by his Worship. It is only reasonable to assume from their tone at the last Conference meeting that the County Council will be inclined to take a more liberal view now the subject has assumed a rather different aspect. My opinion is they will now make the application for the £750 —I think they have enough public spirit for that. Any how, the burgesses will be protected, and it will be a great pity to see so important and useful a work, that would enhance the value of property in the place, fall through now. Cr. Joyce urged that there must be no more burden on the ratepayers, even if the bridge was not got at all—it would really be of little value to the Borough. Cr. Smith: We long ago decided how far we would go—£soo. We go no farther now. Cr. Lewis: We have two chains the other side—the value of that will be enhanced.

Cr. Tucker : We have been two years ready to give £5OO if we could get the bridge, but no more.

The Mayor—Captain Tucker and myself were appointed to see the Natives and ascertain other means of getting the bridge made, and that came to nothing. Instead of paying 4s a yard for poor beach shingle we could have Kaiti stone. Then there is the question of harbor works. Sir John Coode says that if there are harbor works there must be a bridge at, say, Gladstone Road. And then eventually, no doubt, the town will extend across the river if there is a good connection. There is also the advantage of having all the traffic from the whole coast right through the centre of the town. There is no reason why the £1,500 should be thrown away. After acting as we have for so long we must not change front now. We are not asking the ratepayers to spend a single iota more than they have been ready to do for years. Even the spending of £3OOO in the town now when things are slack will be a commercial benefit. I think the County Council will now meet us —if not, I will hold myself responsible. I have a pledge from certain county ratepayers and other gentlemen I know. But even were they to fail I will hold myself surety, and rather than the burgesses should pay it I would willingly pay it myself. Cr. Tutchen—lt will lower the value of land on this side. Land the other side is worth £3O an acre now, and a bridge will make it worth £lOO. Therefore, if the natives will not help, I object to going on with the bridge. Let us build it half-way across and let them come to meet us. [Cr. Tucker—A very good idea]. I do not think the bridge will be worth £5OO to us. We should never have applied unless we thought the County Council was going in for an equal amount. I should want a good written guarantee before we go on.

Cr. Smith—lt is impossible to do any public work of any kind whatever that will not benefit one or a few persons more than the great majority. Mr. Tutchen—l move as an amendment, “ That the £1,500 be handed over to the County Council.” Let them do what they like with it.

The Mayor—That is following the Scriptural injunction to return good for evil. They refuse us £250; you offer them £1,500. But I could not take that as an amendment to the present motion. Mr. Tutchen—We should get some guarantee from the natives and others. Cr. Tucker’s motion was then carried unanimously.