SALEYARDS AND BRIDGE.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIX, Issue 2978, 11 September 1905, Page 2

SALEYARDS AND BRIDGE.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —J would ask the ratepayers who are interested in the poll to betaken on Wednesday next to consider the following remarks before encumbering their properties tor over 30 years with a special rate. That rate will be I'd :u the £, which is equal to the road rate we are now called upon to pay for the whole district. The county rate is now only ajd in the £. This rate is bound to bo largely increased next year on account of loans for the trallic bridge at Hamilton (wherever it. may be), besides the high-level bridge at Cambridge, which has been agreed to; also the projected trallic bridge at Ngaruawahia. The three rates will then amount to fully :id in the £, which will be a heavy burden on those within the special rate. Many of the ratepayers arc in favour of a trallic bridge in lieu of the proposed footbridge; but I would | point out that if the proposal to erect the footbridge is carried at the poll on Wednesday the County Council is bound to proceed with its erection, and then every chance of a trallic bridge in that vicinity will he lost. Therefore, would it not be wise to pause before voting away .£2OOO in favour of a footbridge, whereas five times that amount would erect a permanent trallic bridge, the cost of which would be spread over the whole county ? As it now stands the ratepayers in the special area are considerably divided on the matter of borrowing for the footbridge, although all would unanimously support a trallic bridge. The decision of the farmers to erect saleyards on the showgrounds at Claudelands will ensure their unanimous support for the erection of the traffic bridge in that vicinity, and people who now own sections would be able to subdivide them into town lots, for which there would bo keen competition.—l am, etc., James Primrose.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Over a year ago, when last the writer advocated a footbridge to connect Hamilton and Claudelands, bo had no pecuniary interest in the same whatever, beyond that of a mere resident. I have little or no interest now. I am still of the same opinion that a thriving town like Hamilton, relying as it does in a great measure upon outside custom, should oiler every means possible of access and not be dependent on one bridge, and that an old ramshackle that might have been built in the days of “ Kip Van Winkle.” The printed notices on either end of the present traffic bridge are sufficiently condemnatory to prove that we have only an apology for a bridge at all, and it is a moot question as to whom or what body would be claimed against for damages or compensation in the case of a serious catastrophe, which is certainly not unlikely. Of coarse, the Borough Council would deny all responsibility. When the eastern line of communication is cut the council will wake up to the importance of guaging as to the urgency of other matters totalling .£38,000, as per the estimate to be submitted. “ Interested Katepayer,” in your Friday’s issue, advocates a new traffic bridge, starting across the river from the road between Westeourt and Almadale, so that farmers may drive straight in to the (sometime) Claudelands saleyards without touching the town. I have beard even of a suggestion to cross the river from the centre of the town, somewhere about Bright’s Hotel. “ Interested Katepayer” is evidently so disinterested in his scheme that ho considers the shopkeepers and the public nuisance of mobs of cattle now and again performing the unrehearsed play of “ The Bull in the China Shop.” "Whilst grumbling at these troubles, I venture to say that our Victoria-street tradesmen would not object to the sales taking place in the middle of that street so long as it biought increased grist to their mills. The coffer is a magnet that governs the mill. As to the proposed footbridge, as a mere footbridge I certainly think that £SOO is quite ample for the purpose, and it would not be asking anything unreasonable to request the Government to erect such a bridge as a link to the station. They might then close the Kirikiriroa station except as a goods depot or siding for the races and show. The £SOO promised by the Kailway Department ought to do the job ; but if it must be a case of a ” slap-up ” footbridge, defrayed conjointly by Hamilton, Claudelands and the Government, paying respectively £SO, £950 and £SOO, then I say from what little I know from my brief experience, that the present scheme is doomed to failure, on account of jealousy and envy of komeone contiguous “ making a bit,” the requisite majority I fear won’t bo got at the forthcoming poll. Personally, 1 am for the bridge, any scheme, and shall act accordingly. It is manifestly unfair to those large ratepayers on the outskirts of Claudelands to bo assessed the same as those near the bridge, as the erection does not enhance the value of their property and, being only a footbridge, it is of no utility to them whatever, as they would have to ride or drive in. The most equitable plan seems to me to be to rope in the whole rateable district, without exception, and form equidistant and semi-concentric groups, and graduate from the maximum, near the bridge, to a further edge on the outlying ring. I have neither map nor compasses and scarcely know the district, and these reasons must be my excuse for leaving to others to strike out a scheme fair to all with injury to none. —I am, etc.. Spectator,

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —The ideas given expression to by your correspondents, “ Interested Ratepayer ” and R. Gillett, in connection with the above subjects, have much to recommend them, and it is to be hoped that when tho Hamilton Borough Council and the two county councils interested take the question of the erection of a new bridge seriously in hand, as I understand is shortly intended, a decision to build it on the proposed site of the footbridge will be arrived at. A glance at the map will be sufficient to demonstrate that the town of Hamilton West has a larger community of interest with Erankton and Claudolands than that possessed in common with the two townships of Hamilton East and West. Indeed, from what I understand of the history of the past the interests of East and West have always been diametrically opposed. That in taking a vote on any subject having for its object the common advancement of the town, allowance has either to be made tor an almost unanimously adverse vote on tho East side or a vote to bo taken over a restricted area. U.ider these circumstances I repeat that it would be wise to erect the new iron bridge near the railway bridge, as it would tend to expedite tho union of Claudolands and Erankton with Hamilton West, and thus create a Greater Hamilton. A very small expense and a few turnstiles at the ends of tho present wooden bridge would convert it into a very serviceable footbridge and quite adequate to carry all tho local traffic between Hamilton East and West for a long time. —I am, etc., Number One. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Having read tho letter of “ Interested Ratepayer,” 1 would like to give tho views of many Erankton residents. It is a splendid idea to merge tho Olaudelands footbridge into a trallic bridge, hut why uot put it across at London-street ? Here the river is not so wide, and the expense would thus be lessened, and the cattle that are landed from the trucks at frankton could be brought up in a direct lino with the bridge, and equally handy for tho proposed Claudolands site. Having passed through the present yards five or six times lately, my only wonder is that all the residents of that portion of Victoria-street have escaped that dread disease, typhoid. In conclusion, lot mo ask tho committee to view the Londonstreot river crossing. Hamilton is now large enough for two or more bridges.— I am, etc,, Another Ratepayer. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It seems to me that the action persuod by the Hamilton Borough Council iu connection with the Hamilton borough saleyards, is about to end disastrously tor all concerned —disastrously for the council itself, i inasmuch as it has forfeited the confidence of the ratepayers in an administrative or business ability it was supposed to possess, thus engendering distrust iu the minds of ratepayers as to the merits of any policy the council may place before them; disastrously for the business

people of the town, who, notwithstand- | mg anything said to l,he contrary must I lose a certain amount of trade; dis- I astrously to the farmers, or at least to ! the inconvenience of those living to the j west to the town, who will he forced to lake their cattle to either Ohaupo or Ngaruawahia; disastrously for the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association inasmuch as tho building of saleyards on their property at Claudelands will excite a feeling of resentment among the business people of Hamilton, which will go far to wreck the prospects of the association, in view of the opposition elsewhere. However, it seems to me that tho harm has been done, and and poll as to the site will not rectify matters now, and tho blame tor it must be borne by the borough council as led by Uis Worship the Mayor.—l am, etc. ONhOOKEU.

TO THE KDITOIt. Sib,— May I again trouble you for a little of your valuable space. Since my last letter you have published several epistles on the bridge and saleyards question. May 1 be allowed to oiler a suggestion to tho folk of Claudelands who are interesting themselves in the footbridge, and who, 1 understand, are going straight ahead with the matter. Why do they not go into the matter ot taking over the present railway bridge from the department and convert it into a traffic bridge f Such things have been done with success. I think it would suit the railway people admirably, as they would probably build a new suspension bridge that would be more suited for railway traffic. I have every confidence that the department would give the matter every consideration, as 1 understand they are anxious to do something to tho present bridge, and it might bo that the ratepayers could get possession at a very reasonable figure. I have no doubt a number of ratepayers will agree with me that this matter is worthy of the attention of those who are at the head of the footbridge scheme, and I hope that in the interest of the town and countryside this matter will be taken into consideration before any definite steps are taken to spend money on the footbridge. This is a question of interest to the whole district, and would bo a boon to hundreds, whereas the footbridge would only be of use to those residents within the immediate neighbourhood. Regarding the saleyards, I see by your report of the last Council meeting that again the question of site is to bo brought before the public ; it really does appear ridiculous that the majority of the Council are willing to acknowledge themselves incapable ot deciding upon the best place available for the saleyards, as 1 understand they did so on Friday night by allowing the amendment to bo carried. Your correspondent “ Business ” has my sympathy. His confidence must have been misplaced, if he had any, in those councillors who are wanting to take his recreation ground from him. When the question of site does come before the citizens of this prosperous and mismanaged little town, it is to be hoped that the people will rise with one accord and show those members of the Council who have had the audacity to attempt to deliberately defraud the residents of Hamilton West of their only recreation reserve, without any just or legitimate cause, and vote for the only alternative, the present site. I sincerely trust that not one of our worthy citizens will bo foolish enough to vote for Section 10 (the recreation reserve) that cannot be replaced.—l am, etc., Interested Ratepayer.