FLOOD DAMAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16706, 25 July 1928, Page 8

FLOOD DAMAGE

COOK COUNTY GRANTS MORE LIBERAL TREATMENT Representations were made recently ljy the Cook County Council to the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, for more liberal treatment in respect of flood damage grants. Writing to the Council, which met to-day, the Minister stated that ho was able now to increase one of the grants. Mr Williams wrote as follows: ■"Enquiries have been made, and I lind that the position concerning the Waimata road is that the county clerk stated m his letter of August 2 last year that the estimated cost of restoration was as set out below ; Removal of slips £4OO, repairing bridges £7O, replacing McDonald’s bridge £3000; total £3470. In my reply of August 30, 1 advised the county clerk that I had l approved of £1 for £1 subsidy and authority for £1735, £1 for £l, being half estimated cost. Authority was issued to your council on September 12 last year. ‘ Concerning the damage in the IJangaroa riding, an application was received in February last from the hon. secretary, Hangaroa-Tahora Settlers’ Association. and after investigating the matter the District Engineer advised that he estimated the cost of restoration at £l3lO. The request was made 'for a £1 for £1 subsidy, but, owing to the limited funds available, I was able to approve only £3OO, £1 for £l. I have, however, given this matter further consideration, and I find that there were two roads upon which the damage done]

was less than £SO, these being. GisborneHangaroa, £4l, and Tinoroto-Spence’a £44, and in this connection, I wish to point out that the Government limits assistance to those roads upon which the damage exceeds £SO. These two items, therefore, have been struck out, with the result that the total is reduced to £1225. A £1 for £1 subsidy on this amount would be £612, and I have pleasure in informing you that I have now approved of a further £312, which, with the £3OO already issued, will make up the total of £612. •’Concerning the damage in the Waingake riding, this is estimated to cost £4OO to repair, and I am agreeable to similar treatment being granted In this case. “Authority for £512, £l for £l, is, therefore, being issued to' your council.” The clerk, Mr. F. T. Robinson, said the Minister could not have understood the position at Waimata, where the conditions had altered considerably. The replacement of McDonald’s bridge would cost considerably more than £3OOO, the original estimate, and provision that was being made by the council would wipe out the amount granted by the department, He wished to explain the matter moto fully to the Minister with regard to Waimata. The suggestion was adopted.