SETTLER OFFERS £600 TO PROVIDE BRIDGE FOR ACCESS TO FARM

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 December 1949, Page 6

SETTLER OFFERS £600 TO PROVIDE BRIDGE FOR ACCESS TO FARM

! An offer to provide £6OO toward the j cost of providing a bridge across the ' Kaurapaoa Stream capable of coping I with 5-ton lorries was received from I Mr. W. C. McNab at« yesterday s | meeting of the Waitotara County Council. Mr. McNab, in his letter, pointed out that at present he had to treble handle all goods across a cable swing bridge, which is in a dangerous condition. “I think we should give Mr. McNab every consideration,” said Cr. G. W. Crafar. “He is a good farmer and has been there for many years.” The engineer (Mr. W. J. Gardiner) said he thought it would be possible to build a bridge of 100 feet at a cost of £2500. A £3 for £1 subsidy should be received which would mean that the council would have to find about £5O and Mr. McNab £6OO. He considered a welded steel struss bridge would be much better than one made of secondhand timber. There was no guarantee that the bridge would not cost more than £2500, said Cr. A. A. Win wood. It might even cost double that amount. He thought, the matter should be left over until the council had more information. Cr. W. K. Ross considered that with Mr. McNab’s offer the council was coming out of it well. He would approve an expenditure of even £2OO by the council. It was a pity that there were not more ratepayers like Mr McNab in the county. Opposition to deferring the matter until the next meeting was expressed by Cr. F. W. Gould, who added that at the next meeting the council would probably have no further information. He suggested that the engineer should prepare a plan and estimate for a new bridge and that Mr. McNab be asked to agree to his donation being used as a payment to secure a subsidy. Cr. Gould’s suggestion was adopted and it was agreed to invite Mr. McNab to attend the next meeting of the council.