HENUI BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 188, 11 August 1903, Page 2

HENUI BRIDGE.

03UNTY OOUNUIIM ATTITDDK. ; BOfT.'UGH 10 CONFER. Mr. 11. Okey, Chairman of the County Council, waited on the Borough Oouucil on Monday evening relative to the demand for half of the £3600 for the Hmui briilgn, Ho sail the County thought they were not iiiblf, or if liable, th.t it was not they shou d be called on to pay for that bridge. It was not compulsory for the Borough to charge the County, and ho douotel wh-jther the Henui bridge came within the Act in question. He quoted the j case ot the llutt County Council, and j the B of Welling ot, in wbi.:h J the Borough made claims on adj ic-.mt , loja! bodies for upkeep of the ro id, and, i though the claim was KU'ist-ntiatod, | fhei'o was an apqaal pendi 'g. He alno .quote! the cas.-i of Poraroi, whfte it j was decided thai the adjoining local I b idy iva-i not liable. He pointed out i that the County could cot uso the bridge loan money for a contribution to the Henui hut would Invo to corao upon'the County and tiii4 would engender bad fouling ag dust i the town. Moreover His Worship had j staled that ere loog he anticipated the borough wou'd bs extended for a mile ; beyond its preseut boundary. The ; County had several bri.iges adjtcenttn the town on which ehitns could be made on the borough such as thf Wherekinoj Hsnui (Junction Roid) and Waiwakaiho, but they did nor propose to ask the Council to contribute to these b.-iilgeß. The county and the ratepayers were unan'mous in resisting the claim and ho trusted that it would not be pressed. There were many ratepayers in the town who were opposed to claiming from the County and ha suggested tint some arrangtmsnt might be made whereby the County grided the road beyond the bridge. He criticised the itemj of the estimate, aud pointed out the desirability of coming to an amicable arrangement, In reply to the Mayor Mr Okey said that if Fitzray was taken into the o rough the Waiwakaiho wou'd be a boundary bridge and thus the borough would bave topiyha'f. The Henui bridge was not a b uadary bridge.

Or, Alaxandor considered that Mr Okey'a arguments nullified themselves. Or. Wood considered an arrangement could be nude so that, tbe B:rough took the responsibility of the Henui bridge and the Oounty took the Waiwakaiho bridge. Or. BgllrUige-.' co'nsid red that the Oounty would reap tha benefis of the U3w bridge owing to the incraased valuo of the land cons{qient oa the imp~ovemeat, and a further increase in vjluitiun would take place. If Fiizroy cama in'o the Borough tha latter would lnva to take ovjr liabilities. He admitted the town would benefit by the bridge, but considered it was only fair the Oounty should pay their share of the ost.

Or. Oonnett considered that practically the bridge would coit tha Oounty nothing, as the increased value of property would mors than recoup the shire of the cos ! ". If the Ooun'y were going to fi jht the matter to the bitter end thore was no hing to dis^u-s. In reply, Mr Okey pointed out; that the rise in suburban land had beei general all rouod the town, and he ins anced Frankley-road, Carringfeonro»d, Barrett-road, and othsr districts. Or. Brooking that the Oounel, hiving hoard Mr Okey, rugre's it curnol; depart from its original position.

Or. Edmund.-) seconded. Or, AUxander moved that the Council will consider any reasonable proposition from the Oounty, but at pcesent tiiere was no proposal befora the Cmnci', Or. Oonneti seconded the motion. Mv Okey considered that the Borough flhou'd make «n effernot the Count), lie did not think the County would make un offer,

The MUyor favoured the amendment, as the Borough and the o.mnty had already, by negotiation, came toasitisfactory agreement over the roid a* Fi'zruy, and probibly by a conference an arrangemeut could be arrived at.. In reply to a quastioo, Mr Qk*y sail the feeliDg of the Oounty Chunnd was against any contribution whatever. The amendment, moved by Or. Ahx ander, was carried. The Mayor moved that in the event of the Oounty Council setting up a committee to confer with the Borough Council, a committee, consisting of Ors. Ballringer, Brooking, Alexander, and the Mayor, be authorised to meet the Oounty representatives and confer on the matter,

Mr Okey having thanked the Oounoil, retired.