PROPOSED STOCK BRIDGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10189, 15 March 1911, Page 5

PROPOSED STOCK BRIDGE.

DEPUTATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

PLANS TO BE PREPARED.

iA deputation consisting of Messrs James McGregor, A. P. Whatman, and! A. J. Percy waited l upon, the Masterton County Council yesterday in support of. a proposal- that the old bridges across the Wadpoua river be utilised for the erection of a stock bridge over the river at the end of Columba Road.

Mr McGregor emphasised: the importance of providing a stock route to the town. The matter had been discussed l by the settlers, and it had been suggested that the further ' bridge be utilised. It was thought that an expenditure of £SOO would provide for the urgent needs of the present. The question of expense was one for the Council. The dejjutation thought that a small additional rate over the Rangitumau, Waiiiuioru and Te Whiti Ridings would be sufficient. A stock bridge was an urgent necessity. It was not considered' at present that it would be necessary to provide approaches to the bridjge. Messrs. Whatman.' and Percy j endorsed cue remarks., - , or. ; The 'chairmah ; that Council V was ;%ken - spmewfittt "ifey surprise, and had. ' v; i| .procure- ■ arv 6f '"''l tho work. . The "igaid he^tdiiv-■ nbt think the old . bridges could be> utilised for the purpose indicated. The ' bridjges had been thirty years in use, and had been condemned. Some i of the trusses" were fairly sound', but, generally speaking, the structures were of not' much use. He would, prefer an entirely new structure, which would probably cost between £IOOO and £I2OO.

Cr Toogood suggested;,, that ife would be better to raise a loan over the whole County and erect a new traflje bridge. He would be .favourable to this. He objected ;. to the rates of the Wainuioni Riddrig being encroached upon for the work. The chairman said the Council was in a difficulty, as it would -have' v to confer with' the Borough Ctomtil. : jMr McGregor stated that all they 1 cquired was* "the. most modest pro-' vision foi' ' V

Cr Murray was of opinion that a new structute should be His Riding was not much interested, but he did not think it would object to, a. small, loan for frheworlr 1 The chairman tliat the Lolling of conferences, eicV, woulcT entail a considerable delay.

Cr Kebltell'thcnight that they should defer consideration of the matter, to see what the result wolild : be of .the erection- of the. two new 1 ' bridges. Mr McGregor remarked, that If the new bridges were a chain wide .... -they, would have to face the enormous traffic . from * Lan Howie. The stock traffic, particulafty that of shy cattle, 'should nob be pcrmifcifced to cross/the new -bridge. '' • ■ •" A petition' - signed by f'irty' Tatepapers! was' presented by Mr Percy in support of request of tbe deputation. ' ■

Or Toogood thought that the re- . quest of the deputation an'] petitioners was' a reasonable one. Ke , moved that the Engiaser prepare plans of a bridge to cost About £IOOO, and that a conference be subsequently arranged with: the Borough Council. . i The resolution <vas ty " * Oi' Beetham and caiTMd. '