MOONLIGHT BRIDGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1946, Page 8

MOONLIGHT BRIDGE

COMPLETE COLEAPSE OF . One end . ■ QUESTION OF REMOVAL - Reporting on the condition of the- ■ Moonlight creek bridge,. the renovation- of which, he- said,: was necessary to"- allow, mining' leases, and timber areas' on the other side'of the creek to be-worked, the acting-engineer to the Grey County Council (Mr. H. Higgins) stated * at this morning’s council meeting'that recent floods had resulted in the near end collapsing into the stream. The structure had received no damage, he added, and he considered that it could be re-erected ; five chains upstream. The cost, including the formation' of the' approaches, would be £TSOO. Three miles of road had to be constructed 1 and-until this was done he did not consider that the Public Works' Department would consider granting a 'subsidy. Crs. J. Ryall and R. Clark were appointed a deputation to wait on the Minister of Transport, Mr. O’Brien, concerning the prospect of a subsidy being granted. Cr. J. W. Hannan presided and also present wese: Crs. J. Mulcare, J. Ryall M.L.C., A. McDonnell,’T. G. Jamieson, W. Fisher, R. Clark, F. Donovan and J. Ryan. “Spot-lighting” Danger. The danger to stock caused by deer hunters using spot-lights was emphasised by the Rotomanu branch of the Federated Farmers, which asked whether this practice could be stopped by law. Cr. Ryall; Has the council any authority? Cr. Mulcare suggested that the police be approached. It was decided to hold the .matter over pending the clarification of the council’s position. Cr. Fisher pointed out. that, many farmers prohibited shooting on their properties and, with the high price ol skins, this had resulted in the development of the new system—spotlighting. Shooters were getting as many deer at night now as during the day and until the damage had been done a hunter did not know whether he was shooting a cow or a deer. He added that every night' one or two cars equipped with powerful spotlights, patrolled the Kopara road. Ahaura Sawmills Ltd. were granted permission to widen the Starvation Point track for a distance of one mile.

Collapsed Bridge. The acting-engineer was requested to report on a bridge in the Kopara district, which Cr. Fisher reported had collapsed during last week’s flood. Messrs Jack Bros., Ltd., requested the council to assume responsibility for the maintenance ol a road to the new mill at Stoney Creek and also requesting' the supplying of shingle required near the siding at the Aratika Railway station.—Referred to the engineer for a report. The resignations of R. Kean (roadman at Greenstone), who had served the council for 20 years, and of J. Atkinson (roadman at Paroa), who had been in the council’s employ for 10 years, were accepted and the former was granted two months’ leave and the latter one month. The treasurer’s statement of receipts for the period, ended Novembei 30, 1946, is as follows, the estimated receipts being in parenthesis: Rates and subsidy £2478/6/4 .(£10,929); vehicle licenses £2839/15/2 (£4000), sundry licences £419/15/- (£410); royalties and rents £25/12/- (£70); sales and hire £574/-/8 (£450); refunds of compensation £136/10/6 (£150); main highways £3339/9/3 ( £14,090); Government grants £269 14/6 (£4190): goldfields £3632 16/4 (£’3600); halves and thirds T259/-/8 (£330); fifths and tenths £ 1 ‘W9/16/-. ( £3600); employment scheme £721/3/8 (£1617); sundry £376'/14/6 (£2073); hire account £3126/2/9 (£6000); total £19,628 17/4 I £51,509).