THE KOPU FERRY.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17419, 6 September 1928, Page 5

THE KOPU FERRY.

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE

Local Bodies Meet

PLANT TO BE SOLD. APPORTIONING OPERATION COST CLEARING UP DEFICIT. An important conference of the local hodie,s affected to the running of. the Kopu Ferry was held yesterday at the Thornes Oounty Council Chambers when Mr. H. Lowe (chairman of Thames County Council) presided over the following members: Air. K. L. Walton (chairman of Haurahi Plains County Council). Cr. J. C. Miller (Hauraki Plains Countv Council). Air. E. A. Malionev (Hauraki Plains County Clerk). Mr. AY. Bangard (A Layer of Thames). Cr. A. G. T. Bryan (Thames Borough Council), Air. A. Chapmar (Town Clerk) Crs. F. McMahon. T). Courtney and Winder (Thames County -Council), and Air. T). Mackav (Thames County Clerk). Alter the matter lifid been fully discussed the following decision was arrived at:— “That the pant, eonsitsing of a launch, punt, ramps, and ferryman’s cottage be offered for sale l>v tender, the acceptance or [otherwise of tenders being left in the hands' of the chairmen of the respective councils ” i The motion was moved by Cr. Bryan. * of the Thames Borough Council, and was seconded h.v Mr. Walton (Hauraki Plains County Council). Previous Deficit. Air. Mackay submitted a statement of income and expenditure in connection with the running of the ferry for the period from May, 1922, till Mar fell. 31, 1928. which showed a deficit of £291/17/11. The meeting agreed to leave the apportioning of this deficit amongst the contributing bodies to the three - clerks. Apportionment of Cost. Another matter which came up was the question of the maintenance of the Kopu Bridge, the following letter bearing on the subject from the Public Works Department being read:— “The matter of the care of the new Waihou Diver Bridge at Kopu for operation and maintenance purposes has been under discussion with the Alain Highways Board and the Board considers that the bridge should be put in the care of the Public Works Department. By doing so it will be possible to put an official in charge,, parti of whose time will be a charge against the Public Works Fund under .Maintenance of Bridges. “The estimated cost of the operation of the opening span is as follows: Wages of attendant. . . £2OO Power charges £4B Lighting charges . • . . £2O Extras ....... £2 Total ....... £270

Wf “The above charges are, of course, exclusive of actual maintenance, such as painting, etc., which is hardly possible to estimate at this stage. “The Main Hiligways Board will bear three-fifths of the cost of operation and maintenance, and I would he glad if \ the contributing authorities which County Council, the Thames County would appear to be the Hauraki Plains Council and the Thames Borough Council, get together and decide how the remaning two-fifths of the maintenance and operations charges would be divided.” The chairman stated that lie thought that'the local bodies should contribute to the cost of maintenance in the same proportion as they contributed toward* the cost of the bridge, which was: Hauraki Phans County Council , and Thames Borough Council, tw-fifths each; and Thames Countv Council, onefifth.

.Mr. Walton concurred to this suggestion, hut thought that the maintenance of the approach roads should also lie included. Mr. Bngard stated that he could not consent to this without first putting it before his Council for its opipion. Further action with reference to the. approaches was therefore left in abeyance but the meeting affirmed the principle of the division of the maintenance and' operation costs a.s suggested by Mr. Lowe. Mr. Mack ay was instructed to obtain, an estimate of the cost of lighting the bridge.