APARIMA BRIDGES.

Western Star, Issue 281, 25 January 1879, Page 5

APARIMA BRIDGES.

A public meeting of settlers was held at Foster’s Thornbury Junction Hotel on Thursday afternoon “ to urge upon the County Council the necessity of at once erecting bridges over the Apariraa.” About twenty settlers were present, and explanations for the absence of a considerable number were given. Ou the motion of Mr M. Instone, the Chairman of the County Council, Mr ±l. Hirst, was voted to the clair. He briefly introduced the business of the meeting. Mr M, Insfcone said he did not think any one had come prepared with resolutions' They would have to conaider the best plan of bringing the matter before the County Council. He thought that a deputation should be appointed to wait upon that body; also that a committee be formed to keep up an agitation in connection with the formation of the bridges. Mr W. Johnstone, as a member of the County Council, sai I he would like to make a remark. At the last meeting of the County Council, he proposed that the Council should borrow as a special loan £IOOO to build two bridges—one at Collie’s Fold and the other at the,Upper Ford. All the members of Council agreed that the bridges were a necessity except the member for Otautau, who said the Aparima riding was like a spoilt child, and because it could not get a bridge it was fretting. The member for Otautau, however, could see the necessity of a bridge at Yellow Bluff. He (Mr Johnstone; thought the Council should be asked to borrow £3OOO as a special loan to build two bridges. Although the Collie’s Ford bridge would be wit bin the Aparima riding, lie considercred the Otut.m riding would derive more benefit therefrom, and for that reason he thought that riding should be responsible for onethird the amount propjsed to bo borrowed. Such a bridge would greatly benefit the settlers in Oreti Hundred, and,it would bring them eight miles nearer thq railway than via Otautau. The Chairman snid Mr Johnston's estimate of £3OOO would only be sufficient for one bridge. Mr Johnston was aware that sum was not sufficient, but ho thought the Council would vote the balance-. Mr lustone understood the engineer’s estimate was £2OOO for each bridge. The Chairman explained that since that estimate was made the price of timber and labour had greatly advanced. ’ Mr T. Button said the way they were going on

I ’vras cutting the throat of the country. They ’ were going too slow, and the distinct did not g?b a chance. Ik would be wise to use all the j borrowed money they could get, and then levy a | rate. He did not think any ratepayer would obj ject to such a course. At present they could i neither sell stock nor grain. If any one would advance the money, the settlers would build the bridges if they were let off with the other rates. Mr Johnstone thought something should bo done to agitate the matter in the northern ridings, lie hud recently met with settlers in the Otautau riding, who expressed great dissatisfaction at the anion -if their member in opposing the rote for the bridges. Mr Collie said the necessity for a bridge at Collies Ford was great. Several times during winter bis shed had been full of drays waiting for the riter to fall to enable them to cross. He had often been greatly bothered to provide accommodation for people while waiting the fall of the river. He thought it strange that the people most interested iu the erection of a bridge did not put in an appearance at the meeting and lend their assistance towards attaining that object.

The Chairman did not think the members of County Council for upper ridings objected to the bridges being built but rather to the principle of borrowing a small sum for one riding j they would prefer that a large sum be borrowed for the whole of the ridings. The expense, which would be heavy, would bo nearly the some in both cases. He for one would be happy to see the bridges built. There was not the slightest doubt that it the matter had been properly put before the Government by the member for the district, a sum of money would have been voted for their construction. The Hon. W. H. Nurse said there was no question about the necessity of the bridges; it was patent to everyone. It was hard to expect the Aparima riding to bear the whole of the expense of the bridges. Last session of Parliament he urged the Government to construct the bridges, He had great assistance from Mr Joyce, the member for Wallace, in his representations to Government. Dr Hodgkinson, although he interviewed the Government upon the matter, did so in a half-hearted manner. He (Mr Nurse) being a member of the Upper House, did not feel called upon to take a very prominent part in urging the claims of the bridges ou the Government. When the Government did put down its foot against log-rolling ho approved of their action. The cost of the bridges should be defrayed by the ridings interested. If he was member for one of the upper ridings in the County Conned, he would oppose its being taxed with the part of the cost of these bridges. They should take the burden on their own shoulders. They should agitate the question amongst the settlers. He for one was willing to take his share of the work. ■ Mr Johnston said he had interviewed the member for Riverton and questioned him relative to his action with regard to these bridges. Dr Hodgkinson said distinctly that ho asked ,the Government to construct them on account of their being , part of the railway scheme. The rumor abroad was that he had not done so. The Chairman said according to Hansard, Dr Hodgkinson did not put the matter iu that light. The member for Riverton said he came to Parliament as a beggar, as the County was not able to perform its functions. Mr Johnston said the Council had passed a resolution that the money raised in each riding should os spent there. His proposal, bethought, was a fair one, viz., that Aparima riding pay twothirds, and Otautau riding onb-tbird the amount borrowed. The Chairman did not see the slightest difficulty in carrying out Mr Johnston’s idea. Those ridings deriving most benefit from the bridges should bear the expense. If the question was brought beforo the Council in that shape, he did not think anyone would object. After some conversation, Mr Instone moved, That the following gentlemen ba appointed a committee to wait upon the County Council and take such other steps they think necessary to obtain the object of the meeting, viz., to get bridges erected over Jacob’s River at Collie’s Ford and Upper Ford Messrs W. H. Nurse, T. Sutton, D, Collie, F. Sutton, F. Drabble, JOffieer, W. Hopcroft, J. W. Hamilton, Captain Stevens, A, M’Eenzie, Lyon, Lindsay, Toviotdale, and mover; committee to hare power to add to their number. The motion was seconded by Mr T. Sutton and carried unanimously. It was resolved that a meeting of the Committee be convened for Monday, 3rd February, at Clone’s Great Western Hotel, to form deputation, &c., to wait upon County Council, which meets that day. After a vole of thanks to the Chairman the meeting dispersed.