BRIDGING THE MOKAU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 294, 6 May 1911, Page 5

BRIDGING THE MOKAU.

AX OBDURATE MINISTER. WILL SUBSIDISE ONLY POUND FOR POUND. (By Telegraph— Special to "News"). Mokau, Yesterday. Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister of Public Works, and party arrived at Mokau at midday. They were met at the river by Messrs Nicholls, Jacobs and Jones, and taken across the river. The deputation urged the construction of a bridge to replace the present punt ferry service. They pointed out that the workwas of a national character, and Mr. .Jones emphasised that the late Mr. Seddon had promised the 'bridge. He thought the Ministry was a continuous one, and that a promise should be fulfilled. The Minister said he had no record of the fact, and that the Government was prepared to subsidise £ for £. Now that the "Mokau Jones" block was taken up, a good amount of rates would be contributed, whereas now the district was paying no rates. ,Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., said he would show the Minister the newspaper containing the report of the speech in which the late Premier made the promise. The deputation poipted out that the Awakino county was small both in value and area. They urged that at least £2 for £ 1 should be granted by the Olovernment. Mr. Foreman, chairman of the Clifton County Council, said it had always been understood that the Government would erect the bridge. The Minister reiterated that £1 for £1 was the best they could do, and it was for the people of the district to form a county and have a commission set up to cite the adjoining local bodies. Mr. Jennings thought that the Government should erect the bridge under the peculiar circumstances, it being a connecting link between Taranaki and Auckland. Mr. Calvert asked if the Government would complete the deviation of the Awakino road in a reasonable time. He spoke feelingly, as he had thirty bushfellers there, and the cost of packing was heavy. The formation and metalling of this road would be a saving. The Minister said he would urge the Government to place more money on the Estimates for the work. STUCK IN THE MUD. ' MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE OF THE BACKBLOCKS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "News"). Tongaporutu, Yesterday. Owing to the state of the tides, the party was unable to accept the Mokau people's invitation to dinner, as they would then have been unable to cross at Tongaporutu. The cars stuck in the mud in the Tongaporutu river, but were lifted out by main force, the Minister putting in his weight with the rest. Finally, horses were procured, and the place safely negotiated. The road is clean washed away, and it is proposed to put in a tunnel. Several bridges along the road are now unsafe, and new ones will have to be erected. DELAYED ON THE ROAD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Waitara, Last Night. The Minister was expected to arrive back in Waitara from Mokau at 4 p.m., but at 0 o'clock he had not put in an appearance. TTlie Minister was to have been in Infflewood last evening, and pronosed leaving there for Opunakc to-day.]