THE HENUI BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 5, 7 January 1902, Page 2

THE HENUI BRIDGE.

HOSTILITY OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL. At tbe County Council meeting on Monday Or, Tata brought up the question of the Council's attitude towards the proposal of the Borough Council to rebuild and widen the Henui bridge and levy a portion of tha cost on the county. He considered the Council should have some "assurance as to whether the borough intended proceeding in the m*tt?r, and as to what would ba the limit of expenditure. ' From what he had seen in the Press the outlay appeared to be most extravagant, and he characterised the action of the borough as monstrous, and the proposed expenditure as quite unwarranted.

The Chairman pointed out that there was nothing before the Council from the borough au'horities, and they only knew of the matter through the medium of the Press. He was in favour of resisting to the bitter end any attempt to chirge the county with a portion of the expense, Crs. McDonald and Gray strongly opposed any contribution by the county.

Cr. Lepper considered a wider bridge was mceswry ; but he was ave-se to the policy of the Borough Council deciding on the nature and cost of the structure without consulting tbe Oounty Council. In all probability a I steel bridge could be obtained much cheaper than a concrete one; and, if the county had to contribute, the plans should be submitted.

The Chairman pointed out that not only had the Borough Council acquired a site on the other side of the bridge for an abattoir, but it also intended to cart all its stone from the Waiwakaiho, and therafore the bridge was really fqr the benefit of the borough and not the county, There was another aspect of the question, namely, the Oounty Council would have a claim ou the borough for spe4*l damage to the ro*d for oirting metal, Or, Wright advQoited facing tbe question at once so that tha Oounoil might know the extent of its liability, Cr, Tate said that if the prop wed contribution were oharged to tho Waitara Riding the whole of the settlers thrre would be up in arms against it. The Chairman mentioned that from what he had heard thare was a very [strong opposition to jfche county bearing | any of the expana?, especially as they I were now making cpnsjdc and costly improvements, ja widening the road at JHtaroy. Or, Hopson suggested a deputation. After soma further discussion it was deemed advisable to await the receipt of pUns from the Borough.