WHATIWHATIHOE BRIDGE.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1339, 9 January 1923, Page 5

WHATIWHATIHOE BRIDGE.

IMMEDIATE REPAIRS AND FiTURE CONTROL. APPORTIONMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY. The Minister of Public Works wrote to the Waipa County Council yesterday stating that the Otorohanga County Council had recently made representations urging that before it formally assumed control of the Whatiwhatihoe bridge on the Pirongia-Ka-whia Road, which had recently been handed over to the control of the respective local bodies through whose district the road runs, the decking be repaired. An inspection was duly made by the Department's engineer, and it appeared that the necessary repairs would cost about £250. The Otorohanga Council was advised accordingly, and also that the Department was agreeable to contributing £125 (£1 for £1) as a subsidy toward the repairs. The Otorohanga County Council had now advised the Department, however, that on going more carefully into the boundaries of its

district it was found that the Whatiwhatihoe bridge was in the county of Waipa. The Minister therefore renewed his offer to contribute £125, and asked the Council to submit proposals so that authority for the expenditure could be issued. Cr Alexander said that so far the bridge in question had been under the direct control of the Public Works Department, but under county boundaries revision it now passed into the joint control of the counties of Waipa and Otorohanga. It seemed to await a definite appointment of responsibility between the counties.

Cr Macky said the bridge was of no direct benefit to Waipa ratepayers, as it was an outlet bridge for the ratepayers of the county of Otorohanga. Moreover, it was not a fair thing that the Government should seek to hand over the bridge to any local body in its present state. The present work should be done by the Department, leaving the local bodies to take over a bridge in reasonably good order. Cr Alexander sa'id that in the past the Waipa county engineer had supervised repairs to the bridge, this being done merely as a favour, the Department bearing the whole of the cost. Finally it was decided to communicate with the Department explaining the position, asking that the Government effect necessary repairs before handing the bridge over, that in view of its being an outlet bridge for Otorohanga ratepayers Otorohanga County Council should be made the controlling authority, and that a proper apportionment should be made of the future responsibility between Otorohanga and Wa'ipa.