HUTT PIPE BRIDGES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 124, 18 February 1908, Page 7

HUTT PIPE BRIDGES.

DELEGATES CONFER. THE WORK MAY NOV/ PROCEED. ? A conference in connection with tho ereo- i tion of a new pipe and traffic bridge over tho Hutt River, and a small structure ovor the Waiwetu, at Petone was held yesterday , in the Wellington City Council offices. The Mayor of Wellington (the Hon. T. W. Hislop) presided, >. and the delegates present were: Councillors Morrah, Luke, and Godber (Wellington City Council); Councillor J. Wakehanr (Hutt .County); Mayor Pct-erkin and Councillor Baldwin (Lower Hutt); Mayor M'Ewan > and Councillors Shortt and Southgale (Petone); Mayor Bolton and ..Dr. I M'Keiizie (Eastbourne); and Sir. D. J. Nathan (representing Mr. .IV'J. Nathan) . and Mr. S. Grace, on behalf of private .owners. Officers of the various local bodies olso attended. .' ■ An agreement drawn up at previous conferences was laid before the meeting, and was discussed. • The agreement set forth ( that combined pipo and traffic bridges to replace tho present pipe bridges over tho Hutfc and Waiwetu rivers should bo constructed at cost of £13,450; of which amount £12,50Irwas.for the Hutt bridgo. The Gov- ' ornment contribution was set down'at £1000. Tho Hutt bridgo was to be constructed'in a line with Jackson Street, Petone, and was to be built,on composite - trusses- supported . on/«mcrete pillars, erected-.''on re-inforced .concreto piles. A clear- roadway of 19ft. was to be givon, and a footway of 4ft. The' contributions werp set'out as;follow:— , ■ . i V: -- -'. '£■ Lower 'Hutt ...\. ;.»• •";? 300 Eastbourne ; Borough ... 100 ;v Hutt County ... ... 150; '..■■■ Private owners ... ... 1700 Petone Borough 2563 Wellington City Council 7637. \ The Petone Borough's contribution includca tho cost of deviation of mains. .Any necessary ' additional cost was to bo borno by the two last-mentioned bodies (Petone Borough.' and Wellington City Council). - Tho bridges were to. bo, maintained by the; local bodies in such proportions as may be agreed upon. A RESERVATION BY .HUTT BOROUGH., The clauses were discussed and agreed to.! Regarding the future maintenance of the bridges, it was explained that tlio private owners (represented by Mr. Nathan) would . not be, liable in . this respect. After their ' initial contribution they would' drop out. Tho ~ proportion .of maintenance represented; by - their contribution; would, therefore, liavo to- 1 be split up among the contributing bodies. Mf. Potcrkin (Mayor of Hutt) said his Council had moved that 'the following pro-, viso. should,.be added to the clause relating! to maintenance; —"Provided always that tho Lower; Huttj Borough.' shall > not , under any . circumstances . be.. compelled' to pav .or .contribute for or. towards such maintenance nioro';than;ithe sum or sums.of; money which' / will'bear the same proportion to the wholo , cost of such maintenance as ,the sum of £300 j bears: to tho whole cost of the said bridges ! works." , Under these circumstan- ' ces",. without * authority from his Council, ho, , did'not''see: how; it would be possible for him to agree to further liability. Tho City' Engineer said it was unlikely that maintenance would be ;! required for' eight, years, and,.that ; then the .total cost wouldnot oxpeed £150 0r.£200. a year. . ..After, considerable discussion Mr. Poter- ;i kin protested ',that, he . was there in no ..; hostile spirit, and he asked for time to asper- ■ tain"tho wishes of his Council." He promised to moot his Council bn Thursday night and < give their decision on Friday morning. This was agreed to. The other local bodioa consented to the agreement as drawn out.

PRIVATE OWNERS' SHARE. ~ ' ' In regard to the contribution from private owners, Mr:.D.; J,'Nathan'said that the | no-, tice. of the '■ conference: slibrS, 'find k's his hrother r :Mr..a J :VJV ;^ftmiv'(f45 r liom ho was acting) was in Australia, he had to formally state- that .the sinn'-agreed "to be paid towards the cost, of construction .was £1500, and not'£l7oQ,Vat which' it was shown ( in the agreement.';;'He had 110 doubt though that on his brother's'return tho matter would be satisfactorily arranged.. ; The Mayor of .Petone asked whether, in ; the/event of damage being done to'the'pipa ' structure, other local bodies besides the .Wellington City Council would have to bear the post. ' • I ' • ' ; 'Miv Hislop replied in tho negative, j At the request of the Petone Borough Council it was agreed to insert'a new clause giving Petoiio power, to lay a tramway across i tho bridge, and to delegate such power to a tramway' board or a company. : . . / t ■ The Council, as the- result of the Confer-, ence, are now in a position to proceed with tho,bridged. Should the Hutt, Borough Coun-, ;• oil 'decide not', to agree, on tho'' point, which ' its Mayor will submit on Thursday, the mat- •.• ter will go (according to the opinion of tlr\ • meeting) to arbitration. 1 • , »