THE WAITARA BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 192, 17 September 1909, Page 4

THE WAITARA BRIDGE.

CONFERENCE BETWEEN COUNCIL AND HARBOR BOARD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The Waitara bridge problem was further discussed at a conference between the Waitara Borough Council and Harbor Board members on Tuesday evening, Mr. W. F. Jenkins presiding. All the members of the Council were present, and Mr. Stubbs (chairman of the Harbor Heard), Messrs. Chappell, Wilson, and J. Cameron (secretary) were also present. Mr. Stubbs explained the position to the Counc ;l . The Mayo.-- said that at the last meeting of the'lloard a resolution was passed tleiL tie bridge should be rebuilt on the old "cylinders 0 but he was against anything of the sort being done. The Council should be the proper body to budd the bridge, but the main question was the endowments.

Cr. Tate said that he was pleased that there ivas a conference between the two local bodies, and no doubt the Council was more fit to carry out the schenr. He hoped that some arrangement wou.d be come to in regard to the endowments. The Council was in a position to approach the local bodies to contribute. The Council would no doubt be the main contributor.

Mr. Rattenbury said that the only way to settle the mailer was to leave it to a commission, who would investigate the documents. He quite agreed that the Harbor Board should contribute tlie last live years' revenue received from the endowments, seeing that practically they had not spent any money on the bridge during the time. lie agreed that the Board should baud over half the revenue from the endowments.

Mr. Stubbs said that, looking at h from a borough point of view, the Council were making a good bargain. The Beard's first duty was to look after the harbor. The Board could carry out Mr. Cliappell's suggestion and build a bridge, but the requirements demanded a more up-to-date structure. He considered that the Board should continue with the proposed Bill and the matter i>e decided by a commission. The other alternative was that the Board should hand over the bridge and give half the revenue. The Board had to see to the upkeep of the harbor, and the Council to get the. best offer they could for the bridge of the borough. He suggested that the Council should come to a decision and forward a resolution to the Board for consideration.

Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. Stubbs if t)ie Board would hand over half the revenue from the endowments and the amount the Hoard had at fixed deposit." Mr. Stubbs said personally no, but would agree witli the Bill if passed.

The members of the Board then retired. Mr. Rattenbury moved the following resolution, which the Council agreed to and which will be forwarded to the, Board for their consideration:—"That to meet the growing requirements of the district it is very necessary that a new and substantial bridge be erected across the Wailara river at McLcanfitirrt; that til:' Council of the borough of Wnitarii should erect, maintain, and control such bridge, and, subject to the hereinafter .mentioned conditions, no further demand be made on the Wailara- Harbor Hoard in respect to evpenditure on upkeep or rc-crection. The Wailara Harbor Board to agree to pay io the Council of the borough of Waitara. h perpetuity, one-half of the gross revenues derived from the 'bridge and river endowments.' payable half-yearly; und in view of the tact that lis'during the past five years no money has been spent on the upkeep of the bridge, the I Harbor Board pay to the Council of the liorouffh of Wailara towards the reerection of the bridge one-half of the revenues derived from the river and bridge endowments received during that time; that, the Council of the borough of Waitara take the necessary steps to cite adjacent local bodies for the purpose of (a) deciding what lump sum shall bv paid by thorn towards the wwlc. (b) whiit annual contribution they will make towards the repayment of the interest and sinking fund."