COUNTY BRIDGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81855, 2 October 1906, Page 2

COUNTY BRIDGES.

NEW WORKS WANTED EVERY WHERE.

"I may be on my feet a good deal?' said Cr. Stevens, yesterday, "but that's more than the Waipukui-i bridge can be said to be." He explained its dangerous condition, and asked for a new bridge. Mr George wanted to know how the bridge loan expenditure was to be regulated. It sqemecl that, somu of the Omata riding bridges needed' replacing quite as badly as those in tiie Moa riding. The whole coumy paid the rate, but the bridge loan expenditure was not evenly divided. Cr. Brown said the bridges wou'd have to be made, whether there was lean money or not. 110 thought a mistake had been made in raising the, loan, and the fault lay with the lato chairman. lie (Cr. Brown) had always told him so. The loan should have been bigger. Tho bridges would have to be built, oven if the toil-gates had to be restored to pav for them. Cr. llopson said he had been misled by the lato chairman, who had sured him that .£20,000 could be raised, Now it was found the loan would only be £ 12,000.

Ihe Chairman said the Council could not construct its bridges out of ordinary revenue, and it seemed the ratepayers would have to extend the loan.

Whilst on the matter of bridges, Cr. Hill moved that application be made lor ,£3OOO of the bridge loan to rebuild the Waiwakaiho bridge 011 the Devon road.

In answer to Cr. Brown, the engineer estimated ihe- cost- of the bridge at £2500 or £3OOO. That allowed for ail contingencies.

Cr. Ad!;im seconded. Cr. Hill put forward a scheme to request the Railway Department to allow die Council to use the railway line and the Waiwakaiho railway bridge for ordinary traffic during the construction of the new bridge, a man to bit stationed there to regulate traffic, and the Council" to pay tho whole cost.

Cr. Brown thought that £3OOO would give the Waitara riding- more than its share of the bridge loan. The loan had been raised as a county loan, for expenditure wherever required; but, unfortunately, the Wailara riding members had introduced Iho question of division of the spoil, Hid it had been decided to allocate .he loan moneys to the ridings. Cr. Hill was surprised at the complaint coming from Cr. Brown, ; n he Moa riding, for (hat riding had tad a very good share of the loan noncy.

Cr. Brown did not oppose limiting- the bridge. But as it had been lccided_ to split the money amongst he ridings, lie wanted to see this lone.

Cr. Hill amended his motion, and the Council unanimously decided to apply for £2500 for the work, and to call tenders for next meeting-, pi.ms and specifications will be. submitted to the New Plymouth Borough Council, who will be asked for £IOOO towards the cost.

Ihe Chairman objected in the scheme to use ihe railway line, or even to ereci a temporary bridge. The ford was poor] onaußh in past years, and shfiild be good enough now. Coitnei.lois concurred.

Cr. Brown moved that the engineer prepare p'ans and specifications for a new bridge over the llcnui to replace t'pjehn's bridge on the |unctien road, and for ihe deviation of the road a: thai point. The motion was carried.

If was decided that the engineer prepare plana for the rebuilding of the U'aipukuili bridge on the Mountain road.