THE WAITARA BRIDGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 162, 8 January 1912, Page 7

THE WAITARA BRIDGE.

WHO IS TO PAY? A COMMISSION WILL DECIDE. A deputation from the Waitara Borough Council, consisting of the Mayor (Mr. W. F. Jenkins), Cr. Klenner and the town clerk (Mr. Thos. Buchanan), waited on the Clifton County Council on F-#*Jay in connection with the contribution to he levied from that body towards the cost of erection of the new bridge over the Waitara river, for which a contract has just been let. The Mayor, who acted as spokesman, explained that they were there to endeavor to get an amicable settlement re the bridge. The total cost would be £10,500, made up as follows:—Bridge (for which the contract had just been let) £!)4fl(>, approaches £3OO, clerk of works £2OO, extras £2OO, engineer £SOO. Of the extras, fully £IOO was already earmarked for a new patent coating, which was estimated to last from nine to ten years. Towards the cost of this \ bridge the Government were paying a subsidy of £ 3000, leaving £7500 to be raised by the local bodies interested. This, at <5 per cent., meant that £375 per annum had to be found for 36y 3 years. Of this £175 would be contributed by the Harbor Board out of the bridge endowment fund, leaving £2OO to be apportioned among the local bodies interested. He considered that it would be more advantageous to come to some Mttlement rather than having to go to the expense of citing the parties before a commission.

It was pointed out by some of the councillors that, according to the Harbor Board returns, the endowments, allowing 5 per cent, for collection, would net £4OO, and half of this would realise £200,.n0t £175 as stated. The chairman asked if it were intended to cite other bodies before the commission. The Mayor replied that he did not know. The Taranaki County Council was the only other body that might be cited. Cr. Kennington: What about Awakino? Cr. Klenner considered that that was out of the boundary. They might as well go as far as Auckland. Cr. Kennington: Excuse me; you can. Cr. Klenner: Yes; if you can prove they are directly interested, They will say, however, that the boat suits them better than the road.

The Mayor pointed put that at a con- - ference held between the hodies the late county chairman considered that £IOO would be a fair contribution. Cr. O'Sullivan: That was so.

Cr. Kennington said that did not represent the opinion of the Council. Was that the opinion of the late chairman now?

Cr. Hicks also said that that could not be recognised now. .

Cr. O'Sullivan said that Taranaki ought to pay. Awakino would be citing them soon for the Mokau bridge. He was willing that the Clifton County Council should pay a fair proportion of the cost, but what was a fair proportion.t ■ - ;-• -

The Mayor said if one were cited all would be, but he wanted to save the expense. ' '

Mr. Buchanan said they would like the matter settled, as the contract was let and would soon have to be met. The borough was taking the whole risk of upkeep and damage to the bridge, and at the end of 36% years the County Council's liability would cease. They would try to get the Taranaki County Council to contribute to the cost. The borough was now paying a small amount yearly to the Taranaki county bridge loan, arid might possibly be released from that as a quid pro quo. Cr. Kennington raised the question as ;to whether such an expensive bridge was necessary. He instanced a bridge 100 ft longer which cost £5500.

This side issue was followed for some time, when the matter was referred to the engineer, who blocked that discussion by remarking that the tender had already been -let. 1

Cr. O'Sullivan considered that the bridge endowment fund should produce £2OO, which left £175 to be raised. The Mayor said that the Borough Council considered that, £IOO was as little as they should accept from the County Council. If they could not get that a commission would have to be set up.

Cr. Klenner pointed out that the endowment leases showed £4OO per annum on the books of the Harbor Board, but could it all be collected from the tenants.

A councillor then wished to know if the Waitara Harbor Board were a charitable aid institution. '

(Further discussion followed, and one councillor wished to know if the Borough Council would agree to lower the Coun-, cils' cpntribution if the endowment leases at any time realised more money. The reply was in the affirmative, provided the contribution would be increased if the revenue from that source decreased. It was again emphasised that the Borough Council took all risk. ~ , r . After the deputation had withdrawn,

Cr. Hicks suggested that a committee should be set up to discuss the position. Cr. Sander was not in favor of any contribution. It was the unfairest thing ever brought before the Council. The bridge endowments should rebuild the bridge. It was part of Waitara's main street. They had their own bridge at Tikorangi. Cr. Bowers moved that the Council contribute £75. This was seconded by Cr. O'Sullivan. Cr. Kensington considered that the Council should sit tight. He protested against anything being done without notice of motion. It was an important matter.

It was pointed out that the matter had been before the Council for three years, and a conference had even been held. Cr. Gleeson moved as an amendment, That a committee consisting of the chairman, Crs. Hicks, Kennington and O'Sullivan, be set up, with power to act. Cr. Hicks seconded. The amendment, on being put, was lost, only Crs. Hicks, Kennington and Gleeson voting for it. The resolution was also lost, the chairman, Crs. Bowers and O'Sullivan being the only ones in favor.

No other proposal was put forward, so the matter will have to be settled by commission.