THE MAITAI BRIDGES QUESTION.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9097, 15 February 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MAITAI BRIDGES QUESTION.

A meeting of subscribers to the Maitai Bridges Fund was held at the Council Chambers on Jan. 27th, when there were present : The Mayor (chairman), Messrs Cock, F. G. Gibbs, Jickell, Robert Allan (Bridge street), F. St. John, M. Lightband, and G. Sharland, Jnr. Mr F. G. Gibbs, Secretary, reported that up to date there was in hand and promised £05, the result of a canvass, and some of the canvassers had yet their rounds to do, while £14 3s Gd resulted from the " Mikado" performance, and £15 was received from the Jubilee Committee, making £95 already available; while it was anticipated that with the proceeds of Mr Seddon's lecture to be given within three weeks or so, a floral fete to be held at chrysanthemum time, and a concert that will probably be given in winter time closely on £150 would be raised, but it was impossible to speak with any certainty upon the subject. As one of the bridges would be wholly within the oity boundary, the City Council would be approached to contribute a portion of the cost of that bridge. Mr Cock urged that those portions of the city not already canvassed should be canvassed without delay. Mr Gibbs explained that at the time there were so many subscription lists open that the canvass was not prosecuted as vigorously as would otherwise have been the ease. There was no doubt that the Committee would have the matter put in hand almost immediately. After some further discussion, it was resolved that the canvass should be proceeded with, and Mr Thomas Scott was appointed canvasser. The Mayor said that he thought at one time, so much cold water had been thrown on the scheme, that the scheme was going to die a natural death, but with £60 cash in hand and £35 promised, things looked very hopeful. (Mr Cock agreed.) And then there was the Premier's lecture, which Mr Seddon had assured him (Mr Trask) that he would be pleased to give— this would net a good sum. Also, speaking as a member of the Committee, he would do bis best to get a grant of from £20 to £25 from the Council towards the first bridge, which he hoped would be a cart bridge. Sir Cock said that he would repeat his previous remarks that the provision of another popular outlet and summer resort was a matter that should interest and benefit every townsman. He looked forward to, in a few year, see the road up the Maitai Valley, for eight or ten miles up, as rideable and driveable as any other about the place. He thought the Government might be approached for a £1 for £1 grant, and in time, commencing with one cart bridge, the light foot bridges might be replaced by cart bridges. He looked upon the project as a most useful one, and he did not wish to see^it damped. The following were appointed a deputation to wait upon the Premier, on his visit here, to ask for a grant towards the work : Messrs Lightband, Cock, Gibbs, and the Mayor* { Mr Jickell explained how much had been ! granted already by the Government for expenditure on the Maitai road, and he was hopeful that further grants would be made. Mr Gibbs then explained the position with regard to the oad deviation recom- j mended by the Waimea County Council, which would save the erection of two bridges, and the Council's terms regarding a contribution towards the construction of the road. I Briefly these terms are that two-fifths of the amount raised should be given the Council, who would at once put a bridle track along the proposed deviation, to avoid crossing Almond Tree Flat, . and within j eighteen months to enlarge this to a proper ! cart road. In reply to Mr Cock, Mr Gibbs said that if £150 was raised it would be no more than sufficient to build three footbridges after giving the County Council two-fifths, so that with that sum u cart bridge could not be made. Mr Jickell, in reply to Mr Cock, said that he could not see that a cart bridge could be made under £100, but simple footbridges, on the principle of the Rifle Range, could be erected that could in the event of a grant be converted into cartbridges. The Rifle Range, Mr Jickell explained, was carried on a single row of piles, so that a parallel line of niles would allow the bridges to be so widened that a decking to allow light cart traffic could be carried. On the motion of Messrs Cock and Jickell it was resolved to accept the offer of the Waimea County, which was spoken of as a very reasonable one. Mr Gibbs was also deputed to write to the City Council and apply for a grant for the first bridge. In the general conversation that followed those present expressed themselves satisfied that success was assured, and the meeting then broke up.