BAY OF ISLANDS WORKS.

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1919, Page 2

BAY OF ISLANDS WORKS.

SIR WILLIAM FRASER INTERVIEWED. ROADS AND RAILWAYS. Advantage was taken of Sir William Eraser's presence in Whangarei on Thursday e vening to place before him some of the requirements of the Pay oi' islands electorate. Mr Vernon Reed, M.P., introduced the deputationists, and the various matters uealt with covered the following- requests :— MANGONUI COUNTY LOAN. Mr Houston, chairman of the j Mangonui County Council, informed th e Minister that it was proposed to raise a loan of £54,000 for roading purposes in Mongonui County. The money could b e raised from the Public Trustee, but it was necessary to place the question before the ratepapers, and befor e doing so he wished to know from the Minister what subsidy the Minister would be prepared to give. Mr Reed supported th e application. Sir William replied that no Government could giv c a carte blanche grant to a local body. Each road had to be dealt with on its merits, and plans and specifications had to be sent in. The present Government could not commit the future revenues, although another might after a new election. He was, however, prepared to give £1 for £1 for metalling on ( ,specified works.

Mr Houston said that they anticipated spending £9000 the first u year, and the Minister promised his share of £4500.

Mr J. Wells, chairman of the Bay of Islands County Council, explained that his council had carried a loan of £08,0000 for roading purposes, and Sir William made the same offer, with th c exception that the Bay County expected to spend £12,000 the first year. PAIHIA WHARF. Mr Vernon Reed asked for an authority for £300 for the Paihia Wharf. Sir William replied that it was a question for th c Minister for Marine. If the authority had been given to the Public Works Department it would at onc c be sent to Mr Wood. MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. Mr Reed urged on behalf of Mongonui and Bay Counties, the expedition of construction of the Main Trunk line. An effort should be made at once to complete the tunnels, so that they would be ready when the 13-mile stretch was completed. In reply Sir William contended that more work was being done on this line than on any other in New Zealand. At Huarau they were making double progress. If they struck better country they would be through in eight ornnicn c months. Between Huarau and Golden Stairs they had bad country, and if it was not possible to complete that tunnel in time they might put in a temporary line which was under consideration. This line would go round the tunnel with a grade of 1 in 33. It would not take the full traffic, but it would serve in the meantime and assure a connection between Auckland and Kaikohe. MANGAKAHIA BRIDGE. Cr Kernohan (Whangarei County) asked that the Government replace the Mangakahia bridge, at an estimated cost of £5000. The request was supported by Mr Vernon Reed and Mr Wells (chairman Bay County). • Sir William said he had been prepared to find £3000 if the councils would find £2000, but he found the local bodies did not want to find anything at all. It was an old fight to get" something for nothing, and in fciuch cases he seldom came off second best. He maintained that on e ridingneed not bear the cost, it could come out of the county fund. OLD BRIDGES. On Friday evening Mr J. R. Melnnes (Whangarei County chairman) pointed out that three bridges situ* ated at Whakapara, Wairiki, and Waiotu on the Main North Road, had all collapsed together, and he asked the Minister to replace them, as they were in an unoccupied area from which the county derived no revenue. The Government, however, had received large timber royalties in the district. The cost would be about £3000. Mr Vernon Reed, M.P. for Bay of Islands, supported the application. He pointed out that the bridges were very old—about 45 years. Many of the others built at the same time had disappeared. Th e Government had helped the Bay County to replace many of these old bridges, but the three mentioned had out-lasted the others, and now called for replacement all at the same time. Sir William Fraser wanted to know why th e counties benefiting should not contribute something. He saw no reason why the Government should give the whole amount required. He would get a report upon the state of the structures and see what he could do when preparing the estimates. He would probably want some small contribution, but not, perhaps, £1 and £1.