THE NORTHERN APPROACH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8263, 17 October 1906, Page 5

THE NORTHERN APPROACH.

QUESTION OF & COMMISSIO^. A letter pas received at the meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, last evening,- from Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., enclosing a communication from the Minister for Public Works, which was a reply to Mr Hogg's letter asking that a Commission be appointed to deal with the question of the reconstruction of the bridges over the Waipoua River and the widening of the road in the vicinity. The Minister stated that he was advised Ihat the portion of the road referred to carried a very great deal of traffic, and that it was probably a road which came within the purview of section 109 of the Publio Works Act 1905. This being so, he was prepared to favourably consider the appointment of a Commission to deal with the matter as soon as it could be done, hut he was not at ail sure that the setting up of a Commission at onoe would be of any use. it the work was simply one of maintenance then there was no doubt that a Commission could be set up without delay, but if the bridges needed reconstructing and the work to be done to the road also partook of the nature of construction or reconstruction, then tha procedure set forth in section 118 of the Act would have to be followed before any attempt to set up a Commission would be possible. Mr Hall-Jones, therefore, suggested that the Borough Council should prepare plans, estimates and specifications of such work as was necessary, and then they should follow the procedure set forth iu secions 109 and 118 of the Act, which clearly indicated what [ was required. If either or both of . the bridges required to be re-builc the Borough Council should also formally apply to the Minister for his opinion as to whether the bridge required to be entirely built. It was decided Jto deal with the letter at the meeting on Friday evening next.