THE HENUI BRIDGE SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 61, 4 March 1902, Page 2

THE HENUI BRIDGE SCHEME.

HOSTILITY OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL. At the meeting of the Taranaki County Council on Monday, a legal notice, signed by the Mayor and Borough Solicitor, was read, stating the decision of the Borough Council to rebuild the Henui Biidge, and that; in the opinion of that body the County Council should contribute a proportion of the expense (one-third . Also givins the County Council notice of the intention of the borough to apply to the Governor-in-Oouncil for an order for such contribution.

Cr. Tate expressed a hope that the Ooun!y Council weuld "dt tight" in its opposition to the borough's proposals. He stated that the feeling in the Waitara riding was strongly opposed to the proposals.

Tho Chairman intimated that a deputation from the Borough Council was about to wait on the County Council, and he stated that he intended to move for the appointment of a committee to draw up objections to tbe proposals He had thought it advisable to obtain the report of an engineer, and had employed Mr J. Skinner to in- ' spect ar.d repors on the present bridge. It would be seen by that report that there was no necessity for rebuilding the bridge, the under structure of i which was sufficiently strong to stand! the necessary superstructure for raising the bridge by four feat. Tho present roadway could be widened to 18 feet by placing the. footpaths on the outside of j the structur' 1 . Further, he proposed that a monster petition should be signed by the ratepayeis in the County against tho proposals of the borough- He referred to tho purchase of land at the Waiwakaiho for abattoir purposes, and also to the contemplated haulage of road met J from shat side as being important factors in the borough 6cheme, and therefore as the proposed new bridge would serve so largely tbe interests of the Borough, the Connty should not bs called to contribute, and he urged that they should oppose the scheme to the end. { A deputation consisting of His Wor-1 ship the Major (Mr E. Dockrill), and Mr Brooking waited on the Council, i The Mayor explained the views and objects of the Borough Council in raising and widening 'the bridge, pointing out the desirability of making a gocd job of the work, and deprecating half measures. He emphasised the fact that the bridge served as a means of access to town for all settlers north of the bridge, far beyond the Tarenaki County. Cr. Brooking also spoke in support of the proposal, and answered several questions. The Chairman and Cr. Tate gave their views against tbe proposals, and pointed out the hardship on the county which so large a contribution would entail. They also advocated the useful but modest, plan suggested by Mr Skin Mr, which if executed would serve :ill purposes for another 15 years, and only entail an expense of ,£4OO or .£500,1 as against £4OOO. j Several memb.rs of the Council ex- j pressed their views ngainst th>? borough ! scheme, Cr. Lepper being the only J member who supported it. ; After the deputation had retired, a ! : discussion ensutd, a&d it was decided tint. Ots. Okey, Tate and Lepper be a committee to draw up objections to the proposal of the Borough Council; also ■ o draw out and circulate for signature throughout the county a patitioa against the proposal. j Tho committee subsequently met and settled the foim of the petition, which will at once be systematical ! y circulated for signature outside the borough,