THE WAITARA BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 181, 4 September 1909, Page 6

THE WAITARA BRIDGE.

PROPOSALS FOR RECONSTRUCTION. At the Clifton County Council meeting at Waitara yesterday the following letter was received from Mr. J. Cameron secretary to the Waitara Harbor Board: "IJie Boiiiil find it necessary to rebuild tii.. ... ,dge over the Waitara River. I'he i3 , briefly, as follows. At tin. time the present undge was vested in the Board the Board received as an ondowmrat 100 town sections in trust for the purpose of maintaining a bridge over the Waitara river, and for tne maintenance of the harbor. To meet the requirements of the district the Boaru is desirous of erecting a wider and stronger bridge than the present one, and has deciued to promote a Bill, to be submitted before Parliament this session, providing that the Board will set aside a portion of its revenue towards paying on a loan, and further providing, in addition to power to levy a toll, that the adjoining local bodies interested shall be held liable to contribute. With a view to coming to an amicable agreement in the matter, 1 have been requested to invite you to attend a conference, consisting of the Clifton County Council, tiie Taranaki County Council, the Waitara West Road Board, the Waitara Borough Council, and the Waitara Harbor Board, to be held at the office of the Board on Wednesday, September Bth, at 2 p.m." Mr. Foreman said this letter was the outcome of a series of meetings held in Waitara. It appeared to be difficult for the Waitara Harbor Board to replace the bridge with a permanent and suitable structure. The Board had power to borrow £7OOO, but had not been able to raise the money. How they were going to improve on that iie didn't know. He wasn't quite sure v-sether the Harbor Board could be brought under the Ijoeal Bodies Act, for there a rate had to be pledged as security. He had understood that no rate was proposed. However, it would lie ,of little use to discuss the matter now. But it was very important that this bridge should •be retained and the road kept open, and that, if posible, the new bridge should be of a permanent nature. i Councillor O'Sullivan agreed with the idea that the various local authorities should contribute, but he objected to the proposal to charge a toll. The chairman said that if the bridge a:id endowments were handed over to the Waitara Borough Council there was no doubt that this Council would be compelled to contribute. He doubted Whether the Ngatimaru riding should be asked to contribute, for it iiad already to maintain a bridge over the Waitara river without any assistance from the other ridings.

Councillor O'Sullivan asked the chairman why he hadn't advocated something of the kind for his own riding, the TikoTangi. Councillor Hunter thought the contribution might fairly be assessed on a differential basis. The chairman said the system of rating on land values was differential rating, for the more highly valued propertics paid the most rates. Councillor O'Sullivan moved, and Mr. Hunter seconded, that as many councillors as can make it conveninet should attend the conference.

Councillor Sander moved an amendment that the Council take no part in the proposed conference, feeling that the Council should not admit liability to contribute. He objected to the Council contributing at all.' Councillor Kennington seconded. The Harbor Board had endowments bringing in £430 a year, and that amount should be sufficient to pay interest on the loan.

Councillor Hunter: Are the endowments for the bridge alone? The chairman saiil that opened up a big question. The endowments were handed over to tho Board with the bridge. Councillor Kennington said the Waitara people seemed to want a flash bridge and they should pay for it. Of course, the bridge carried a lot of country traffic, but the town got the benefit of it.

In the course of further discussion, the chairman disagreed with the proposal to place only £2OO of the endowment revenue towards the bridge fund. Tlie whole of it should go to the bridge, but now, judging by tlie tone of the meetings in Waitara, the people there we're trying to take the big half for harbor improvement. Councillor Julian pointed out that there was a Government grant of £3OOO. The Board had £IOOO in hand, and this £2OO of revenue would pay interest on a loan of £4OOO at 5 per cent. Thus l £7OllO was provided, and why call on the local bodies?

The chairman said it had been found impossible to raise the money at 5 per cent. Councillor Julian: New Plymouth Harbor Board did it. Why can't we? Better get King and Connett to run the show.

Die county engineer said that the estimate given to tlie Harbor Board for a steel girder bridge on concrete piers was botween £BOOO and £9OOO. Tlie .plans were now under consideration by the Public Works Department. The amendment was altered to read that the Council attend the conference but admit no liability. The amendment was lost and the amendment was carried.