RANGITIKEI BRIDGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 12

RANGITIKEI BRIDGE

INTEREST IN MANAWATU. From 60 to 70 ratepayers of the Manawatu County attended a meeting at Rongotea on Saturday night, in order to meet County Councillors and listen to a review of the rate position. Mr. A. N. Moreom, convener, presided. Cr. W. E. Barber (chairman of the council) before reading a lengthy statement on behalf of the councillors, stated that it was in the interests of the council to meet the ratepayers and explain the administration of rates. The council was passing through a difficult period. It was economising in every possible way and studying the ratepayers’ interests. In the course of a lengthy review of the general position, Cr. Barber said: “Aj to main bridges, wo have seven mail, boundary bridges, and one in particular is causing the council a great deal of concern at the present timethe Rangitikei river bridge nt Bulls. Some little time ago the bridge over the Manawatu river at Shannon was partly washed away and a new one had to be erected. Our proportion of tho cos’- was £5500, and we are still paying interest on the loan for the old bridge £1544) and will be for another 17 years. It looks as if something of the same nature is going to occur at the Bulls bridge. The loan for the present bridge (£3075) does not mature until 1944—• eleven years to run. In addition thoro is a small loan of £229, for the low level bridge built below the present site in 1898, that has six years to run. Tho council intends to fight for a bigi subsidy in this case, on account of tho peculiar circumstances that appertain to the present structure.” It was intimated that a reduction in rule* was improbable.