The Taranaki Herald. (DAILY EVENING.) THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1913. BRIDGE OR PUNT?

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144050, 20 March 1913, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. (DAILY EVENING.) THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1913. BRIDGE OR PUNT?

A matter of more than ordinary moment to them, and, incidentally, to tke whole district, is nt present exorcising' the minds of many settlers in the Awakino and Clifton counties. The need for a bridge over the Mokau River has been felt for a considerable time past, and settlers have been living in hope that at some period in the near future such'a structure would be built. At present a punt of sorts is in use«on tho river. In the past it may have served its purpose more or less successfully; in its old age it has become erratic, and sometimes breaks down or sinks when its best efforts are most needed. Further, it is, even were it dependable, too small to cope with the traffic, which has now attained to'goodly proportions, and is daily growing. In the circumstances, therefore, it is not surprising that the Public Works Department has moved in the direction of giving those who have to cross the river better facilities for doing so. Tenders have been called for a new steam punt, which, Rumour says, will cost anything between £I4OO and £I6OO. It should be a serviceable vessel at that price, and nt first blush one might feel Inclined to think that the settlers interested were being given something that they should-be very thankful for. But there are other things to be considered. The district, which includes the Mokau and other country of great potentialities, wants more ready access to markets, and it is felt that a punt — even an up-to-date one—will not quite fill the bill, even under existing conditions, not to mention those of the future. What is wanted is a bridge, over which cattle may be taken without, the fisk and trouble inseparable from a ferry. And many head of cattle and sheep have to cross the river during the course of twelve months. In addition, there is a growing general traffic which

should be considered. It is estimated that a swing bridge, to allow of the passage of shipping, would cost about £16,000 —half of which would have to bo provided by; the ratepayers, and half, we believe, by the Government, which usually gives a pound for pound subsidy in such cases. The interest on that amount, at 5 per cent., would total £BOO per annum, so that the ratepayers in the Clifton and Awakino counties would be called upon to pay in rates or otherwise £4OO a year. That would mean very little indeed for each ratepayer. If t lie idea of an extra rate were not acceptable to the majority—-we are led to understand that there would be no general objection to it—the settlers would, we believe, be quite willing to pay a bridge toll. If the new punt service is installed, it will be fairly costly. At least two, probably more, men will be needed to work the punt, the upkeep of which must be heavy. If a bridge were erected one man would be sufficient to attend to the swing portion of the structure, and he could also collect the tolls. And on the Government contribution to a bridge the cost of the proposed new punt would pay four years’ interest. The country about Mokau and beyond is very attractive from a scenic point of view, and the motor and other traffic that way would be greatly increased were there a good road and bridge.

Over and over again this point lias been stressed by people not of Taranaki who have motored through that country. Therefore, if a bridge were built the revenue from such a source must be handsome. Besides, as we said before, it is absolutely necessary that settlers should be given the best possible access to the nearest market, which is towards this end. We will not at this juncture discuss the abstract question whether or not it is the duty of the Government to treat the road as a main arterial one, which helps to feed the railways. The position is that the Government intends to put on the river a new punt, which is not wanted by the settlers, because they feel that it cannot, even at the outset, prove as satisfactory as could be wished, and because, once the punt is on the river, the chance of getting a bridge—which would be of great utility to settlers and the travelling public generally—would be hung up indefinitely. Many persons interested in this question have not known that the Public Works Department has called for tenders, which, by the way, close at the end of the present month. Fortunately, others have, and these are moving in the matter of endeavouring to prevail on the department to delay the date for the closing of tenders, and meanwhile to consider the question of whether it would not he sounder policy to build a bridge. In any action the Clifton and Awakino County Councils may take (hey are assured of the sympathy of the Taranaki County Council. But action must he taken at once. ,