TAITA AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11705, 18 December 1923, Page 4

TAITA AFFAIRS

TAITA-BELMONT BRIDGE. The regular monthly meeting of the. Taita District Ratepayers’ and Progressive Association was held last week, when Mr Futter presided over an at tendance numbering thirty members. Mr Natusch, president of the Belmont Progressive Association, and several other members of that body were present by invitation. The chairman briefly outlined the steps that had been taken in connection with the proposed bridge over Dm Hutt river. Mr Foley submitted a plan, the total estimated cost being £22,000. This amount allowed for an overhead bridge, 18 feet wide, with sufficient- span to allow of the railway line being duplicated. The piles of the bridge to be of hardwood with ferro-concrete decking. The fact that it was-not the policy of the Railway Department to allow more level crossings meant an increase of £4500 on the original estimate. A great amount of filling in'being necessary in order to provide the approach from the riverbed to overhead railway bridge. The rating area proposed wae bounded by King’s, along the skyline by Haywarde and Belmont to Ncrmandale, and the boundaries of the Hutt Borough. The capital value of this area was £617,000, necessitating a rate Of one penny and a hundredth in the pound. This was based on a loan of £14,000, as a subsidy of £1 for £2 had been promised. Hie proposed bridge would be in a lint from Cottle’s lane to just north of Belmont. A very lengthy discussion ensued, the fact being stressed that the railway would etui be on the wrong sido of the river, and that residents in Nai Nai would still require a ’bus service to convey them to and from the railway station. While it was admitted that closer settlement must inevitably come in the Hutt Valley, there were many vacant spaces in Dower Hutt which should be first filled up. No motion was put to the meeting, but a public meeting will probably, be called shortly to further discuss the subject.