MANGAPOIKE NEEDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19377, 15 July 1937, Page 12

MANGAPOIKE NEEDS

RESTORATION OF BRIDGE

.SETTLERS’ REQUESTS

WAIROA COUNTY MAY HELP

(Herald Correspondent.)

The long drawn out agitation for the restoration of the Mangapoike bridge, carried away some years ago in a cloudburst, came before the Wairoa County Council again yesterday.

A deputation comprising Messrs. P. Williams and C. E. Conn, farmers residing near the Tukemokihi, was introduced by Cr. A. T. Carroll, in the unavoidable absence of Cr. S. A. Dickie, who had always taken a keen interest in the matter.

Mi - . Williams, who was the chief spokesman, explained the steps he had taken recently to bring before Ministers the question of granting £2 to £1 subsidy for the reconstruction of the bridge. He considered there was a fair chance of securing this subsidy as the Public Works Minister was very sympathetic in regard to the jvants of the Mangapoike settlers. The bridge, he said, was estimated to cost £2400, and the settlers proposed that this should be met by £BOO from the county and £I6OO from the Government. He held that as the settlers were holding only native leases, they should not be asked to contribute, especially as the bridge was on a through road to and from Gisborne, which eventually must be opened up Good Hearing Expected

The Hon. P. C. Webb, aclingMinister of Public Works, was coming through shortly, and they would supply him with all the necessary particulars, take him over the road, and probably fittingly entertain him. They expected, added Mr. Williams, to get a good hearing, as he was looking out for work for a number of men who would shortly be leaving the railway works. Mr. Conn endorsed the previous speaker's views, and added that not only should the bridge be restored but the road made more lit for traffic. They had secured the interest of Messrs. E. L. Cullen and D. W. Coleman, M.P.s, in the matter, and as £f to £1 subsidies were being granted elsewhere, they had a favourable outlook.

Cr. Carroll stressed the point that the farmers, having short leases, should not be called upon too heavily, but he hoped the council would arrange the matter that day. Cr. W. Tait pointed out the high rates that <he.se settlers had been paying for many years, and said they were fully entitled to the work being carried out without being called or for a contribution, as they only had a short tenure of the land. Hr supported Cr. Carroll in asking for the matter to be settled that day. On the motion of the chairman seconded by Cr. Carroll, the council decided that, provided the Government granted a £2 for £1 subsidy the council would find the balance, namely £550, with £250 to come from the settlers.