ONEPUHI BRIDGE.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 3511, 6 April 1918, Page 1

ONEPUHI BRIDGE.

KIWITEA COUNTY COUNCIL'S

OBJECTIONS

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

YESTERDAY

The Rangitikei County Council having decided to ask for a Commission to decide upon the apportionment of the cost of the proposed bridge over the Rangitikei river at Onepuhi, the Kiwitea County Council, which it was proposed should bear 16 2-3rds of the cost of the work, held a meeting in Feilding yesterday morning to consider the position.

Members present at the meeting were: Crs. A. E. Pearce (Chairman), J. J. Bryce, C. Mclntyre, L. T. McLean, E. H. McLean, A. P. Francis, and P. Lewis. Cr. Shaw sent an apology. The Chairman read a letter from the Under-Secretary for Public "Works setting .out the terms of the Commission. The Rangitikei County Council's share was apportioned at 40 per cent., Marton Borough Council 10 per cent., Oroua County Council 33 l-3rd per cent., Kiwitea County Council 16 2-3rds per cent. The Council said tho -Chairman, had previously discussed the question and the plans of the proposed bridge, and had decided not to contribute. The Engineer informed the Council ha had measured off the distance from the nearest point of the Kiwitea county to the site of the proposed bridge, by the most direct road, and found it 8. miles. The estimated cost of the proposed bridge was £2000, and the Kiwitea Council's share was set down by the Rangitikei Council at £300 odd. Cr. Lewis asked, supposing tho structure were washed away and a larger one erected, would the Kiwitea Council be again rated at 16 2-3rds per cent.? Cr. Bryce said if the Council agreed to the apportionment now, that fact would certainly weigh with any future Commission. The Chairman proposed that the following objections be fonvtrded to the Government and the Rangitikei County Council: 1. That the proposed bridge at Onepuhi is not required by the ratepayers of Kiwitea, and would rarely be used by such ratepayers. 2. That practically all interests of ratepayers of Kiwitea at the lower end of the county are towards Feilding. 3. That tlie site of Onepuhi bridge is over eight miles by road from tlie Kiwitea county. 4. That the*Kiwitea ratepayers already have four bridges over the Rangitikei river and one over the Kawhatau river connecting Kiwitea county and Rangitikei county, namely Potaka, Rangitikei two thirds, Knvitea one-third; Mangaweka, Rangitikei and Kiwitea, half each; Mangarere, Rangitikei £800, Kiwitea £3500; Otara, Rangitikei and Kiwitea, half each ; Vinegar Hill, half each, 6. Owing to the inadequacy of the structure for commercial use, and further, on account of its site not being contiguous to this county and its benefits are infinitesimal. This was agreed to.