PETONE IMPROVEMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6382, 3 December 1907, Page 6

PETONE IMPROVEMENTS

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. Last evening a meeting of ratepayers was held at Petone to discuss the proposed routes to the new bridge over the river which it has been decided to erect. The Mayor presided, and there was a Urge attendance. His Worship said the Borough Council had decided in favour of a direct route to tho bridge by an extension of Jackson street; but after receiving from tho Gear Meat Company a letter intimating tnat it would require .£4OOO if tffat route was adopted, the Council resolved to submit the different routes to th© ratepayers for their decision. The whole matter would b© discussed that evening, so that they would be able to give an intelligent vote at the poll on ’Wednesday. He then, gave the history of the negotiations of tho Council in connection with the proposed bridge. The total cost of the direct route, including Petone'is contribution to the construction of th© bridge, was estimated to amount to £10,926, plus way for watermains and plua a noxious trade area. Tho alternative route h© estimated to cost .£8294, also plus a noxious trade area; and th© Esplanade route £5315, in eacu case tho e mount of Petone’s contribution to bridge construction being included.

In reply to Mr Wakeham, the Mayor said that th© landowners of the locality were contributing £I7OO towards the new bridge. Mr J, Piper asked whether the original estimate of Pctono's share of th© cost was not £llOO.

Tho Mayor replied that that was so, using the Esplanade as an approach. But considerable alterations in the plans had been made since that estimate had been prepared. Mr J. Piper considered that Petone would be paying much more than its fair share of the cost of the now bridge. Regarding the statements which had been i’-“ -.v .9 tiic ujulgD largely increasing Pctono's rate revenue, ho thought those expectations would prove illusory. Ho moved, ** That this meeting protests against needless expenditure in connection with the bridge proposal, and recommends th© present pipe bridge as a site, ond approached by way of the Esplanade."

Mr D. McKenzie seconded the resolution.

:Ur McMillan proposed as an amendment that the direct route be adopted. Mr Nicholson seconded the amendment.

The Mayor,- replying to the remarks of Mr Piper, said th© Lower Hutt Council, had contributed £3OO towards tho bridge, and Lower Hutt landowners wore giving £I7OO. So they were getting £2OOO from the Lower Hutt, which was a very good contribution, especially when th:y remembered that in the judgment of many Lower Hutt residents the' would not do that borough any good, inasmuch as traffic would be diverted for the benefit of Petone.

Mr T. A. Pctorkin, Mayor of Lower Hutt, replying to Mr Piper, said if he had been in the chair of the Hutt Borough Council when it was proposed to give £3OO to the bridge the contribution from tho Council. would not have been three hundred pence. (Laughter.) The voting was equal on the amendment and resolution. The Mayor gave his casting vote for the amendment.