HIGHER ALLOCATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 144, 17 June 1944, Page 4

HIGHER ALLOCATION

NO. 8 HIGHWAYS COUNCIL NEW BRIDGE~FOR BULLS The cash allocation for all purposes was 197,900, compared with £76.712, the amount received last jear, said the chairman ol the No. 8 District Highways Council, Mr. G. AV. Sampson. when Hie estimates for the year ending March 31, 1945, were under consideration at the annual meeting in Wanganui yesterday. “There is an increase of £21,000, but against this, provision must be made for the new Rangitikei River Bridge at Bulls," Mr. Sampson added. ’Tenders for this should be called within the next two months." As steel for this bridge was available it was anticipated that the expenditure this year would be between £20,000 and £25,000. Because of the amount of the allocation, however, no provision could be made for the necessary ma’ntenance work of the present bridge 'l he full amount estimated would have to come to charge. Last year, £22,238 was voted for work on other than State highways and expenditure amounted to £18,596. For Slate highways £54,474 was voted and expenditure totalled £71.841. The increase over lhe amount voted was due mainly to damage caused to roads by military vehicles. This was estimated at approximately £26.000, part 0 wa ’ s conie to charge. This year." said Mr. Sampson, f S a <£-> 5 1g! 1.'. vay , aPP'ications total 13b,862, double last year’s expend)l.on, a| l. applications total x1.2J,()92. iou w’ili see that considerable pruning is necessary. “It i s well realised that manv improvements should he put in hand, hut with the money available only pure maintenance can he considered. Other than con niitments all new works must he deleted.’ ’ 2'l’ e amounts reconicndcd for the different local authorities, with lhe sums applied for and the actual expenditure last year, in that order, are as follows: Patea County: £3860. £5.366, £3115. £2O23 ltOtara C ° Unty ’ f2350 ' Wanganui Countv: County expenditure. £950. £2554, £6!0; ‘ Public Works expenditure, £3OOO. £4518. Waimarino Countv: Countv expenditure. £2620. £3736. £1910; Public £2"2O S ex P ent *’ ture > 14801, £5141, £3?M nBit ‘ kei C ° Unty: f 4749 ’ fS9M . Boroughs and town boards, £932. £4182, £6.34. General: £575. £575. £924. Includes signposting, accident compensation and general surveys. £7 St g ate highways: £73,733, £92,230. County representatives at the meeting were: Messrs. W. G. Belton (Palea), A. H. Collins (Wanganui). W. Doole (Rangitikei). L. T. .Tone* (Waitotara'. and D. J. Berry (Waimarino). County engineers in attendance were Messrs. S. A. R. Mair (Rangitikei). T. Dix (Waitotara), R. R. Dawson (Wanganui) and W. F. Johnson (Patea). The chairman of the Waitotara County Council, Mr. W. Morrison, who i s a member of the Main Highways Board, Mr. O. D. Bell, a Public Works Department engineer at ’WAnganui, and Mr. C. A. Smith, secretary to the council, were also present.