UPOKONGARO FERRY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 19910, 8 October 1913, Page 2

UPOKONGARO FERRY.

WAITOTARA COUNCIL DEPUTA-

TION ISED

The position taken up by the Wanganui County Council in regard to the Upokongaro ferry was further ventilated on Monday, when, as :a result of the representations which were made by >a deputation that waited on the Wa'itotara Council Council, the Wanganui County's decision to close the ferry is likely to bo further postponed. Messrs Allen, Glenn and Higgie (Wanganui County Council), Speed and Robinson (Mang.awhe.ro Road Board) and A. C Mannington formed the deputation. Mr. Allen pointed out the argent necessity of keeping the ferry open. For the past 35 years it had done useful service. For many years it had been run at a loss, and was becoming too big a burden for the Wanganui County. For Jast year the receipts were £68 16 S 9d, Jtnd the expenditure £261 19s 3d: this year receipts were £67 13s Bd, and the expenditure £144 6s. The totals for the two years were £210 Os Id and £483 10s 11, showing a loss on the two years' working of £273 10s lOd. Mr. Allen asked that the Council suggest a means ko that the upkeep and responsibility should be equally borne by the two Counties. He said that a suspension bridge could be erected for from £4,000 to £6,000, and would probably be cheaper in the end.

Mr. Glenn said that 13 children passe-7 over the ferry every morning to attend the Upokongaro school. The nearest other school was at Aramoho, four miles away. The amount of traffic had shown a reduction this year.

Mr. Ritchie (chairman of the Waitotara County Council) said that the traffic had been reduced owing to the impassable state of the Wangamii Coimty's roads. He said, referring to the ferry: Put the tariff up, and make it pay"" The Waitotara Council would not take half of the responsibility.

CVIi-. Mannington suggested that if the Wanganui County could show that that in the past 2o years the ferry had not made a profit, the Waitotara County and the Wanganui County should run the ferry conjointly, each hearing the cost and responsibility Cr. .Ross said that the closing of the ferry would ho a great inconvenience-, and ho considered that the Waitotara County Council should contribute.

It wa s pointed out that the lowest insurance risk that could he obtained was for £1000, and this would cost £50 a year. The necessity of a stock bridge was referred to in th<> discussion, Cr. Ritchie holding the view that such a bridge should be erected at the end of the Brunswick road.

Messrs Speed and Robinson spoke, placing the position of the Mangawhero Road Board and its ratepayers befoi-e the Council.

'Mr. Connor ultimately moved, and it was carried: " That tho Wanganui County Council be asked fr> call tenders for the working of the ferry, the Waitotara County to bear twolfifths of the loss on the cost of running the ferry."