UPOKONGARO FERRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 268, 12 November 1932, Page 6

UPOKONGARO FERRY

REPLACEMENT DEBATED COUNTIES’ DIVERGENT VIEWSWANGA N UI COUNCIL S ACTION. Should the ferry service at Opoko ngaro be reinstated by installing another punt there? The Waitotara County Council is of the definite opinion that it should, while the general opinion of the Wanganui County Council is that it is not necessary. The Waitotara Conn cil suggest that the two bodies should share the cost of the installation of a new punt and the Wanganui Council appears to be, willing to sell the Waitotara Council a half share in it, provided that all expenses and mainten ance be shared on a 50-50 basis. At a meeting of the Wanganui Coun cil yesterday morning Messrs. W. Mor rison and T. Dix, representing the Wai totara Council, were present as a de putation and the matter was fully dis cussed, both from an historical and business aspect. It was finally decided by the Wanganui County that Messrs. D. Mackintosh and W. Craig the Ferry Committee, be appointed to go into the matter with power to act. The Two Opinions.

The Wanganui Council’s reason foi considering that the punt, which was recently washed away from Upokongaro to a point just ociow the Wanganui Town Bridge, a distance of seven miles, should not be re-instated was that the ferry had outlived its useful ness and that it was of no great sei vice to the W’anganui County ratepay ers. It considered that as the counci 1 had built the punt in years gone by and. until 14 years ago had borne the whole of the maintenance apd expense, the Waitotara Council, which claimed that it was of use to its ratepayers, should replace it if they wanted the service to continue.

The Waitotara Council holds that the ratepayers on both sides of the river wish the ferry to be replaced as it i? of great convenience to them, although it might be a luxury. Regarding the cost of its upkeep in the past it claim. 7 that it has paid as much in proportion as the Wanganui Council. Mr. Morrison pointed out to the Wanganui councillors yesterday that the Waitotara Council had offered to take over the ferry in 1884. when tlu* county was first constituted. In the early days, he said, there had been considerable competition when tenders had been invited for the right to work the ferry and to collect the dues, and that the Wanganui County had received a good rental. There was, however, no record that the offer to take the ferry over had been considered.

At that time there had been no roa 1 leading up to Upokongaro on the Wanganui side of the river and con scquently those people travelling to the township used the roads on the Wai totara side. His council had asked th*' Wanganui Council to contribute £5O t n the upkeep of the river road in 1885. Apparently no assistance had been given as two years later a toll had been put on the river bank road at th'* ferry. Those were the reasons why the Waitotara Council nad not shared, at that time, the cost of providing and maintaining the ferry. Benefit to Wanganui.

Mr. Morrison also pointed out that the ferry had been built at the in stance of the people on the Wanganu side of the river and that even if the Wanganui Council had paid more wards its upkeep, as it was claimed, they had received more benefit. The ferry, however, had been started who-; the Wanganui and Waitotara counties were combined and both had borne the initial cost. It was admitted that the old punt had been washed away and had been replaced at the cost of the Wanganui Council, but then as he ha-1 pointed out, Waitotara’s offer to take it over in 1884 had not been heeded. He did not desire to dig into th° past to decide what should be done to day, however. The position was that the ratepayers on both sides of the river wanted the ferry. It had been there for the past 60 or 70 years and it would only cost about £6O to re place. He thought that the ratepayers were entitled to some consideration. Mr. Mackintosh said that his coun cil were pleased to have the niattei placed before them. He contended tha» the ferry to-day, although it migh have been wanted by the Wanganu; people in the past, was of more benefit to tho Waitotara people to-day. H<proposed that the Wanganui Councd pay for the “outfit” and sell a hah share to the Waitotara Council for £3O. His council was against rein stating it, however, but if they could be convinced that it was necessar they might give way. Mr. Morrison replied that he knew that the Wanganui Council was against it, but he thought that when they ren lised the events of the past thcii view might be. altered. He considered the agreement made 14 years ago, thai each board bear half the maintenance, was tho best. After all the cost of re instating the punt would only be a flea bite. ‘ ‘Extraordinary Position.' ’ Mr. Mackintosh: 1 suppose you will agree, Mr. Morrison, that it is of more benefit to Waitotara than to Wan ganui ? Mr. Morrison: T don’t know that 1' is. I should say that it is ot great ini portance to Wanganui. 1 have beei approached by all your people and asked to get. it put back. Mr. Mackintosh: That’s extraordin ary. All your people have come to me. Mr. Morrison: Our council is empha tic that, in the interests of the rate payers and realising the small sum in consideration, the punt should b<‘ After further discussion the deputa tion withdrew and Mr. Mackintosh asked councillors for their opinions. Mr. J. Todd said that the ratepayer all round the district seemed to be in favour of the ferry being reinstalled. Air. ATackintosh: And would the; help us to pay? Mr. Todd: Well they pay their rates Air. Mackintosh: We don’t think that it is of much importance to the county. Mr. Todd: The Mangnwhoro Ridin.' is in favour of it. Air. J. Kennedy thought that it was a matter which could be decided by the two ridings, one in the Wangairr and one in the Waitotara counties. Mr. W. Craig agreed with Mr. Tod ' The ferry had been at Upokongaro for years and he thought that it might im pose a hardship to do away with it. 4 I think that we should fall in line with

the Waitotara County and contribute on a 50 50 basis,” he added. Air. D. McGregor wanted to be sure that the 50-50 basis extended t« the cost of upkeep both of the ferry and I he ferryman’s house and all other expenses. It was pointed out that the arrangement already existed. Mr. Todd moved that the matter be, referred to the Ferry Committee with power to act. Mr. Craig seconded the motion, which was passed.