OTAMITA BRIDGE.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1273, 31 December 1903, Page 2

OTAMITA BRIDGE.

meeting at mandbvillb. '

A meeting of Mandeville ratepayers WCM* settlers was held in the Public Hall laatevrfT ing to discuss the question of the site of tfee Olamita hiidge, etc. There were upwirds of 35 pre*ent, and Mr Wm. Palmer was ohosen as chairman. The Chairman briefly outlined the obj-ot of the The si'e thev had in view was the be3t between Pyramid and Oore, while the present site was Hlwnya in danger of being washed away, ai.d hail been ruined by the late 11 iod. If the new bridge was again erected nt Olamita expanse would always he entailed in keeping [lie training worki in order. MrThos. Green, ih»ii Coonly mouther, was unable to b- present, but b» had written stating that he thought it was a little premature to liave the present meeting, seeing that u site was lint finally decided upon. The committee appointed by the County Council had visited and inspected the ground, and would, no doubt, in due course report to the Council meeting on January 8. It would then be decided where to erect the bridge, and the County would probably apply to the Government for a grant. Failing a favorable reply frotr. the Government a voting at ea be the remedy, including, sav. Hokonui and Mataura riding*, and Hire.-'ti(iha of the votes polled would carry a proposal for a loan. This, however, was scarcely likely to occur as fitr as llokonui was concerned. He considered tbat the only cnurae open *to Hokonui ratepayers was to lie 1..w, and'see what Mataura riding was likely t.> do, as-thi bridge was of much in ne importance to tha (utter than to Hnko.ujj. In th, nac&ntiuH they could rely on him vv.ttc ling tba interests of Hokonui rijing. Mr H. Horrell (convenor of the meeting) stated thai in accjiditnce with the wish*** of the ratepayers on Mandeville side of the river the meeting had been etll.il, and an invitation forwarded ti Mr Green to be present. It appeared that he did not thiiiV it worth while to attend. Homo time ago tMlv members cf the County Council and tbe engineer wero appointed as a committee to select a site, and by smiie means the Hitlers on the other side of the river beard of ibis, and mustered to meet the coimuittee in (great force. They appeared to have bad some influence with the C munittee, and showed them a .site below the old bridge. He was speaking for the bulk of the ratepayer* when he said that they bud i.o sympathy with the site proposed that day. It was wud'-known that that portion of tlr.-; ivt r was troublesome, and that considerable sunn of money had been expended in trying to protect the banks. The old bridge to-duv was almost on an island, and the same thing would occur again if the chosen site was decided on. If the engineer with his alrlity had failed to save the old bridge, be would nkewi-e fail in the new site, the speaker ton*iJcred. If Mataura riding.would p*y for the new bridgaoti this site Hokonui was agreeable to let the matter stand, and, even this being so. the expenditure tequired for protective works would have to be shared by both ridings. The latter was a sore point with n ime of the ratepayers. Had the committee and engineer come up the . river toward* Mandeville, they would have found an almost perfect nie, where for 20 years pavt there had been no change in the courrc of the river. It was rot fair to expect Mandeville ratepayers to contribute to the Otamita site. —(Applause;. Mr Duncan lloss said lie could vouch for the Mifoty of the Kourd Hill Bite, which he had known for 20 years

Mr James Sheed said hn thoic'lit that they should have been untitled of the visit of til.! Committee to Otainita. It was high time for them to look i,fti-r their interests, and lie did no; think the meeting was premature, because if a sue was fixed the matter would be close 1 altogether. T.ieio was little doubt but thai Hound Hill site was the most suitable, and t!i<: p.oper pUou for the bridge to go. • (Ajiplnuse). Mr James lioche said be qui.*) agreed with the teruinks exp r i'S'-d by the last two speaker?. Mr I' I) i, i > jiii -ci', :.;;n .If in favor th M.i ■ U.I "V ii •" ii '1 li, • 11 i„ i,l ;o somewhere wn.- ..Uhu. 1 edsonl.al, mid stentyd that it ei'Uld be . i.eltd mire safely cheaply «t Hound Mill th:>ii Onuliltff'ljß ft>rmer was the plico for it. T^H Mr James She* d sai.l that they undoul>y obj.e.od to the erection of the bridge on V lower Fre. lie wi.nld prnpi-n that a note* be foiwnlnl to the member (or tile disti,.; to this I ll'-cl, bit station that they had i\M ohjei'i.i'n, to the I'niind Hill site. ' fl .*fr Will, 'l'tciiiume seconded. fl Mr li. \V. C. Worrell said that it I originally iuien.l.d to cue: the bndg when Captain McKcnxiu represented the di-tr i" 21 vears ug >. had been voted f..r the purpn-e, but inlluenee or other ni'*ans, tho money expended at htm <*y Creek. It appear! that a. similar gain ? would be carried 1 Mr S. Horrell snid lie thought it advisabiJ to elect iv commit eo to deal with Ihn matter/ and perhaps two delegates to wait on ths Council, li was desirable to carry the matter to a final issue. The •Minmittee would watelii over the interests of district ratepayers, anl they would have power to call u meeting I anytime to appoint delegucs. He wot J move an amendment in this direction, afl that the coimniuee consist of Messrs PalrnH lioclw, hlieed, lioss, Geo. Horrell, Boult, C. McKet zie, and the mover.—Seconded bl Mr J. Git en, jun. The amendment was carried. The meeting closed wi:|i u vote of thanks to the chair.