WAITARA BRIDGE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14013, 18 September 1909, Page 1

WAITARA BRIDGE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) llio Borough Council and Harbour Board met on Tuesday evening to confer on mattors relative to the bridge. The chair was occupied by his Worship the" Mayor (Mr. W. F. Jenkins) and members of the borough council present wero : Councillors Birdling, Black, Brabant, Jvlenner," RattenbUry, Spurdlo aj.d Tate. 'Jho harhour Hoard were represented by the Chairman (Mr. G. H. Stubbs) and Mr. H. Chappell. Mr. J. Cameron, the board's secretary, , was also present. The Mayor stated that, the meeting was the qutcpme of the discussion at the last harbour board meeting. Ho then asked Mr. Stiibbis, phairnian of tho harbour hoard., to. place his views before the conference, and to state the present position. Mr. Stubbs then -went into the de-. tails of the present position. He said however, that he came expecting to hear a proposal from the council ro tnthig over the bridge liability. He thought that the council were in a muck easier position to finance the matter, and carry out the re-prection. Councillor Brabant expressed the opinion that tho council was t}ie proper body to control the. bridge. He understood the board were considering the proposition that the endowments should be handed over to the council so that the bridge could bo gone on with. The Mayor said the whole trouble was tho endowments. If they could get over that difficulty the rest was clear. Councillor Tato said it was, undoubtedly more within the functions of the couiic.il to seio to. the erection of tins n.ccusd struoturo., and he hoped eomo arrangement would result whereby the board would hand over a portion of its endowments in return for tho council assuiniiig tho liability as to niairiUMuuice. A clear understanding" with tho board was necessary, and ho hopod their demands would not bo arbitrary, for their interests wero dual ones. Councillor Brabant/ agreed tho interests woro idoiitical, and both bodies should work in harmony. The Mayor said that although Mr. Quilliam's interpretation of tho deed went to &liow that the bridgo and harbour wero each entitled to half the rovonuo, thcro wero several old identities who persistently held that the sections wore given first of ail for bridno maintenance. Ho would bo pleased to hear what Mr. Stubbs might say on this point. Mr. Stubbs said the Minister btated that the endowment was given for tho dual purpose. The Mayor nsked Mr. Slubbs if lie had hoard* of a part of tho town block boin^ ol.ta.mod by iho town board of 1)iosl> Jaya. if it H^roinl to tho arranjxi*menl betwooii the' luirbour board and tho Government. Mr. Rtubbs replied that ho was una>vn )'o of this. The clerk was then roqucstcd by the Mayor to icad a letter received that day from Mr. Joseph Pounin^ton, of Inulouood. Tliis document referred, sis will bo soon, to ancient history. The following is a copy of same: — '"Koferriny; tti our conversation ro sections in Waitara Harbour Board, when 1 was a member of the Waitara Toivn Board iur tho ycdi 1 18ry, the Government scut

a letter staling that 100 unsold sections in "Waitara wort' handed over to the Waitara Toivii JJoard, the routs ol saint) to bo used for the maintenance of the bridge across tlio riv<'i'. The board, as then constituted consisted of five members, viz., Prod Webster, John Elliott, 15. C. Lawrence, senr., Joseph Ponnington and D. Tel far. "When dealing with the correspondence, the throe first named suggested that the town board should not accept the sections, but "havo them handed over to fclio harbour board, "of which 'they were also members. Tclfar and myself objec<^d r desiring them to ?je kept by the torn) bftnrtl. Ailor a ]««{» /lisolie sion, finding wo worn outvoted, wo accepted as a compromise that the Work of sections, including the Masonic Hoto' to the corner opposite Snoll's, sliould be gazetted to the to'.vu board for municipal and general purposes, the balanc. 1 to be handed over to the harbour board, who undertook to comply with the offer, but I regret to say that they ncvor moved in gotting the agreement attended to, but too'c the lot. If yoiic mimiles &w> ear-efvll.v kept from 1878 you will find data and correspondence. I am of opinion that this was before tlyp board about the end of 1878, but lam 'not sure of exact date. Trusting this will be of some use to yon," etc. Councillor "Klenner said ifc was for the board to make an offer to the council, and for -the latter to consider its acceptance. The. position was thisthe bridge must be rebuilt. They had to accept the present position, so it was j -no use in opening up ancient history. Councillor Kattenbury said to his mind the best way would be to refer the. matter to a commission to ascertain the respective liabilities. Councillor Brabant asked Mr. Sbubbs if the board would accept the finding of a commission. Mr. ' Srubbs replied thab the board would certainly have to abide by the finding of a commission set up" by legislative authority. Councillor Rattenbury thon moved: "This meeting ju conference between the AVaitara Harbour Board and the Waitara Borough Council resolves that it is desirable for tho public interest .that tna above council should take over l > control of the "Waitara Bridge, and to build a new bridge and maintain it without any further demand upon the Waitara Harbour Board, except as hereinafter agreed upon, viz,, the board to agree to transfer to the council in perpetuity half-yearly half the gross rents or other revenue derived from tli© bride© and river endowments ; and the board, in view of the fact that no money has been expended for tho past five years, pay to the" council, towards the ro-erection of the bridge, half the gross revenue derived from the endowments during that period The borough council to take, steps to have other local bodies cited for the purpose of deciding (a) what lump sum they shall contribute towards its cost; and (b) what half-yearly contribution they will make towards the payment of interest ami sinking fund." Councillor Tate seconded pro forma, and the motion was passed unanimously.