HOKIO STREAM CROSSING.

Shannon News, 18 May 1926, Page 4

HOKIO STREAM CROSSING.

REQUEST FOR A BRIDGE. At Saturday's County Council meeting, a letter was received from Messrs E. J. Arcus, R. A. Macdonald and Read Bros, who stated that the Hokio Drainage Board, in the course of its operations upon the Hokio stream, had seriously damaged the. ford, making ■access to the writers' properties very difficult. The writers asked the Council to approach the Drainage Board concerning this matter, in the protection of the formers' interests. Mr Arcus waited on the Council in support of the request. He said the Drainage Board did not seem disposed to do very much, members pointing out that the settlers were asking for a bridge before the creek was touched and were no worse off now, and that the metal they had made available by their work would to some extent compensate for the drainage and, inconvenience that had resulted. He was afraid that it would be difficult to get a petition signed to form a rating area for a road as well as the bridge, and lie asked that if "the district was formed for a bridge, the Council grade the hill, tire settlers undertaking the metalling. The creek had been deepened by 4 or 5 feet and there was 2-J feet of' water in it at present. The chairman asked whether the Drainage Board disclaimed any lia- ■. Mr Arcus said the foot bridge had been washed away over a fortnight ago, when the dam was let go, and they had done nothing. The footbridge should be .replaced at once as it would take a long time to get the other bridge. The chairman said the cost of taking a small loan of £l5O or £2OO would be too great. It would be better for the Drainage Board and the Riding to make contributions. The Drainage Board had undoubtedly a moral responsibility and he would take it up with them immediately. Cr. Harkness said the case was a very deserving one. The Drainage Board had done a good work, but it could not cut off the access of Countv ratepayers. The following motion was passed:— "The Hokio Drainage Board be written to advising them that this Council expects the Board to replace the foot-bridge recently washed away from its position at the Hokio Ford, and give-the approaches to the ford immediate attention."