OTATARA IMPROVEMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 17971, 12 March 1917, Page 3

OTATARA IMPROVEMENTS

SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL’S ACTION. At the meeting of the Southland County Council on Friday, Mr W. G. Tail, solicitor, attended and urged upon Councillors the necessity for having something done to the roads at Otatara in Tucker’s subdivision. After Mr Tail had withdrawn Cr Fleming moved, Cr Fraser seconded, and it was resolved: "That the Engineer report to the next meeting of the Council as to the cost of gravelling the roads in Tucker’s subdivision and requirements needed, and in the event of a sufficient sum of money being deposited to meet the cost of the work the Council wtfll take the necessary steps to have the.' roads dedicated.”

At a later stage the question of the construction of a traffic bridge over the estuary came up for discussion, and Cr Fleming took strong exception to the remarks made by Cr Bain at a recent meeting of the Tov/n Council when the proposal! was being discussed by that body. Cr Fleming said that Cr Bain’s remarks on that occasion were characteristic of him, although he (Cr Fleming) could not exactly make out what Cr Bain was driving at. He had implied that the County Council was quibbling in the matter, but what the County Council had been doing all along in the matter was to step in and protect the Town Council from its own incapacity. It would take £6OOO to construct the bridge, and other necessary work in connection with it would absorb nearly another £2OOO. The question arose as to what proportion each of the public bodies concerned should contribute, and, also, the question arose as to whether at the present time, and under present conditions, the county should take steps to carry on the work. There would have to be a special, rating area, and it was problematical if the Government would provide the money just now. If the money required was procured from other sources, then the work would be more costly. There were also legal difAcuities which would have to be given consideration. The Town Council might take the matter up, and perhaps the De : fence Department, which was an interested party. The property was a harbour endowment, but he thought that when the Town Council obtained the consent of the Marine Department, it would become the private property of the Town Council.

Cr White said that it would be a pity to hang up the work. The ratepayers concerned badly wanted access, and, if they were prepared to pay, he thought that the County Council should go on with the work as soon as possible. He suggested that a commission should be set up to go into the whole matter. Cr Robertson said that the remarks that had been made at a Town Council meeting came with a vcrY bad grace from that body, which the Southland County Council had protected in every possible way. He believed that the Otatara people were prepared to pay for the work, but they ought to make a direct vote towards the cost of the bridge. Cr Fraser said that the matter had to be approached very cautiously. The present request for a bridge came from the Otatara ratepayers. There was a danger of the necessary rate being a considerable burden to the Otatara ratepayers, who, however, were willing to go on with the matter, and he did not think therefore that the County Council should create obstacles. After further discussion Cr Fraser moved, Cr White , seconded, and it was agreed’: “That this Council instructs its Engineer to prepare plans and specifications of a 20 feet Umber traffic bridge with a three feet footbridge alongside, for submission to the Council s next meeting; that this Council is of opinion that the cost of the bridge should be apportioned as follows: Southland County, one-half; Invercargill Borough Council, one-quarter: Defence Department, one-quarter, and that this Council takes’ the necessary steps under section 11!) of the Public Works Act 1908.