MEETING RE WAINGONGORO BRIDGE, NEAR NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 65, 24 November 1880, Page 4

MEETING RE WAINGONGORO BRIDGE, NEAR NORMANBY.

A. meeting on the above question was held at Normanby on Saturday last at about 8 p.m. About 35 settlers were present. On the motion of Mr. Inkster, Mr. Gibson took the chair. Mr. Gibson, on opening the pro* ceedings, expressed his regret that a public meeting had been required to urge the Government to go on with this bridge, which was really much needed, and should be gone on with at once. He then called upon the mover of the first resolution to do so. Mr. Frei then moved the following resolution :— " That this meeting would respectfully urge upon the Government the necessity for at once calling for tenders for the erection of a bridge over the Waingongoro river, on the Normanby-Manaia road, and would call the attention of the Government to the great loss and inconvenience that is now suffered by settlers on the Plains desirous of building or fencing having to cart all material required a distance of. ten miles or more ; whereas, if the bridge were erected, the distance would be Teduced to three. This meeting would also point out that if these inconveniences are so much felt now in the summer, how much more serious will their position -be in the winter. It is therefore considered that the high price obtained for the land justifies this meeting in asking the Government to at Once grant their request. The price of 100 acres on the Plains would defray the cost of the bridge." The resolution was carried unanimously, without any discussion being raised. Mr. Robson moved the next resolution, to the following effect :— " That this meeting is of opinion that the mode in which the services of the body of men called the unemployed are used is mast unprofitable, and a hindrance to the Bpeedy formation of a good road between this part of the district and Manaia, and that it be represented to the Government that were the work let to the men in small contracts, it would be far more beneficial to the public and themselves." . Mr. England opposed the resolution, on the grounds that it would be unwise to divert attention from the main object in view. Mr. Thomson expressed his concurrence with the view of the last speaker. He thought that the best thing would be for an alternative offer to be made, by which the willingness of the inhabitants to help themselves was made apparent. If the bridge was erected out of money raised in the district, and should only cost .£SOO, the tolls required to pay interest on the capital would be very ligtit. He thought there ought not to be much difficulty in ra.)si»g tbe uaouev. Captain Wilson considered it would be unwise to levy a toll on the bridge, as that would drive traffic away round by the other bridge. It would be time enough to do that when the Government refused to do the work. Mr. England thought Mr. Thomson had made the most foolish speech he had ever heard. The people of the district saoufri insist upou ta« OEoverument giving them their rights. It was. perfectly absurd for the people to 'do work for the Government, who were obtaining a large revenue from the settlers, and should be forced to build the bridge without delay. Mr. Eobson's resolution was withdrawn. Mr. Thomson thought that the best earnest of the work being really needed and likely to prove of general utility, could Jbe given by those interested, new settlers and others, by, showing their readiness to subscribe -towards it. Some of the new settlers could recoup any outlay in the course of a few weeks by the saving they would make on timber and firewood, which they would be obliged to procure at finv price. Mr. Inkster pointed out that the only track to the upper portion of the Plains lately sold passed through a native reserve, through two slip- panels and one gate. . No private individuals, whether European or Maori, would permit such a thing. He thought the request of the settlers was only reasonable, and was opposed to a subscription. Mr. Yorke proposed that a subscription list Bhould be circulated through the district, so that the readiness of the settlers to help themselves might be made apparent. He had some experience in making requests for Government grants for roads and bridges, and had aiways found that, under any circumstances, delay and serious loss of time was the result ; whereas if the settlers said to the Government, "We are prepared to pay so much, either one-half or onethird of the cost of the bridge, if the Government will pay the rest," there was some hope of having the work done at once. Captain Wilson thought that the first thing to be done should be to petition the Government to do the work ; if they declined, then it would - be time enough to try and raise subscriptions in aid of the work. Mr. Thomson thought time was as much value as money in this matter, and urged the -immediate going on with the work, even though subscriptions had to be collected for it. The Chairman thought the settlers in this district were heavily enough handicapped, without being called upon to put. their .hands into their pockets any deeper. There were

county rates, road rateß, harbor rates, to pay, without imposing further voluntary taxation. Mr. Gray pointed out that Mr. Yorke had mentioned that the order for the delivery of his timber on the Plains had already been given, and that consequently the bridge would not be of service to him in procuring timber for building. This proved that delay would necessarily involve a heavy tax on all new settlers, and he was therefore in favor of something being at once done by the settlers themselves.

Some discussion followed, and a general opinion was expressed in favor of waiting a little while for an answer from the Government before taking any further action. It appeared that no one really knew what the cost of the bridge was likely to be, although a rough guess had been made by a professional man at about .£6OO.

Mr. D*A2fon wanted to "know whether the line of road was not marked off on the map. [Yes.] Then, he maintained, it was the duty of the Government to open the line, in order to give the new settlers access to their land. No private bridge could be erected on tfie Government road reserve.

The Chairman read the following telegram from the Colonial Treasurer to Captain P. H. Brett, Normanby : — "Your telegram re Katene fencing across the road received my immediate attention, and I hope before this the matter has been put right by Mr. Parris. With respect to a bridge across the Waingongoro, the matter has been under consideration for sonic time; and Mr. Bryce has directed plans and estimates to be prepared, which will be ready shortly. The bridge is, no doubt, a very desirable work ; but the money at the disposal of Government to do necessary works on the Flaius is so small in amount thai 1 fear ildere may be some difficulty in finding any for this purpose. As soon as Mr. Bryce has come to a decision upon the point I will communicate with you again. — H., A. Atkinson."

Mr. Quin proposed, and Mr. Robson seconded, — "That the settlers of the district should offer to lend the Government sufficient money at the ordinary rate of interest, for a period of nine months, or until the next Estimates are passed, for the purpose of erecting* a bridge across the Waingongoro." If the Government did not avail themselves of the offer it would be a sufficient evidence that they did not really wish, the work done. An informal discussion followed, but ultimately the resolution was passed. It was understood that the chairman should forward copies of the resolutions to the Government, and that he should summon a, meeting to consider the* reply as soon as he received one.

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting, which was very orderly throughout.