COUNTY BRIDGES.

Shannon News, 14 December 1928, Page 4

COUNTY BRIDGES.

NEW WAIHOANGA STRUCTURE, AND A LIGHT STOCK BRIDGE.

DISMANTLING AT TAUNGATA.

Reporting that it had gone very carefully into the ways and means of financing the bridge proposals in the Otaki'Gorge, the Works Committee made the following recommendations to the County Council on Saturday:— Waihoanga Bridge.

That the sum of £4OO be added to the estimated cost (£2700), of erecting this bridgo to allow for the cost of dismantling the Taungata Bridge—£3,loo. That, the money required for the work be found as follows:—(a) Government subsidy available on a £2 for £1 basis, £1800; (b) special loan to be raised under Seotion 25 of the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1926,41300; total £3IOO.

New Light Stock Bridge in Place of Taungata Bridge.

• The estimated cost of this bridgo is £SOO. The same to be financed as follows:—(a) Government subsidy of £250 on a£l for £1 basis; (b) the general account to purchase the timber in the Taungata Bridge which will not be required for the Waihoanga Bridge, and the Te Horo Riding to receive credit -for the same, estimated value £250; total £SOO. That application be made to the Auditor-General for consent to pay the interest and other charges on the Taungata Bridge loan out of the general account, the same amounting to £2B 11s lOd annually. That application be made to the Local Bodies Loans Board fpr eonsent to the raising of the Waihoanga Bridge Loan of £3IOO. The chairman stated that it was proposed to remove the Taungata Bridge, for which a special loan was raised over a special rating area. It was felt that if the Council took away this bridge and the settlers lost their access, they should -be relieved of the klpfecial rate. It ,had at first been thought that this cohid be paid out of the riding fund, but advice had been received from the Auditor-General that this could not be done, but that it must be paid out of the general fund of the County. He moved thht the report be adopted, Cr. Catley seconded the motion, and asked the chairman if he was assured of the Government subsidy. The chairman replied in the affirmative. He felt that, with regard to these structures, the Public Works Department had treated the Council quite fairly. Cr. Jensen: In regard to access to some pi the sections, will if not be necessary to go a little further into that matter?'

The chairman: If this is adopted by the Council to-day, they will be supplied with the information that the Council proposes to dismantle the Taungata Bridge and to erect, further up the river, a light stock bridge. They can raise an objection. The report was adpoted, and it was decided that settlers in the Otaki Gorge who object to the dismantling of the Taungata Bridge be ■ advised that the Council’s proposals are for January 19th", 1929 (the date of the next meeting).