THE HAMILTON BRIDGE.- PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6098, 3 June 1881, Page 6

THE HAMILTON BRIDGE.PUBLIC MEETING.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Thursday. Tile public meeting held this evening in the Borough Council chamber, to urge on the Government the desirableness of making the Hamilton traffic bridge free of tolls, was well attended, representatives from nearly all parts of Waikato, Waipa, and Piako Counties being present. The Mayor of Hamilton occupied the chair.

The following resolution, proposed by Mr. Richard Gwyssb and seconded by Mr. S. M'Leuson, was carried unanimously, "That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable and just that a sufficient sum of money should be placed on the estimates for the forthcoming year to pay off the liability now existing on the Hamilton traffic bridge for the following reasons : l-'irst, that it is a connecting link between the termination of the Great South Road on the west bank of the Waikato River, at Hamilton, and its recommencement on the east bank of that river ; also, that it furnishes the only direct means of communication between Raglan and the West Coast of the North Island and the Thames on the East Coast. Secondly that from the town of Auckland southwards by this main road to the boundary of the provincial district of Auckland, no toll is levied -on any other bridge at present in existence. Thirdly, that it is inequitable that a small portion of the community should bear the burden of keeping up a bridge necessary for maintaining communication of an arterial nature through the heart of the Northern portion of New Zealand."

Mr. McGarrigle then proposed, and Captain Steele seconded the following resolution, which was also unanimously carried : —"That a committee, consisting of the Chairman of the counties of Waikato, Piako, AVaipa, and Raglan, the Mayor of Haniilton, the Chairman of the Newcastle, Kirikiriroa, Cambridge, and Hamilton Highway District Boards, Messrs. Vialou, Gwynne, Cumming, Captain Runciman, the members for Waipa and Waikato, and the mover, with power to add to their number, be appointed to take steps to prepare a petition for presentation to the House of Assembly, praying that effect be given to the foregoing resolutions, and that the committee be authorised to solicit subscriptions from the public of the four counties, in furtherance of the object sought to be obtained."