CLAUDELANDS FOOTBRIDGE

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 7000, 2 May 1906, Page 2

CLAUDELANDS FOOTBRIDGE

THE ALLOCATION,

The report of Mr Short, commissioner on the allocation of the cost of the Claudelands footbridge, has been received by the clerk-? of the local bodies intarested. The Commissioner considers that Wai kato County Council should contribute 75 cent of the cost. He states that the bridge will turn farming land into residential areas, and thus increase the County rates. At the sauie time the residents will have the a 1 vantages of the Borough without paying the rate?. The bridge would prejudically affect the values of land in parts of the Borough, and would tend to the prosperity of a portion of Hamilton West at the expense of other parts. It is an absolute downright necessity fur Claudelands, but only a convenience for a pirt of Hamilton. Therefore, if Olaudo'.ands wants the bridge it should pay the bulk of its cost. As for the Borough, the bridge would be a convenience to a certain number of residents who would cross it for pleasure and recreation, and of considerable advantage to business or professional men whose premises are near it, or who would live at Claudelands, but on account of reasons given above, the Commissioner does not think the Borough should contribute more than 20 per cent of the cost less the Government contribution.

This leaves 5 per cent, which should be contributed by the Waipa County. The bridge would largely be med by Frankton, (population e-timated at 300) for pleasure nnd recreation. The question as to whether theCouuty could legally be made to contribute is certainly on the border line, but looking at the near future and the probable use of the bridge, the Commissioner considers that the County comes within the terms of the Statute.

Each pirty should pay its own costs, and the Cf'St of the Commission should be borne equally by the three bodies. Concluding his report, of which this is a summary, the Commissioner notes that, as the local bodies have decided to accept the Government's offer to attach a footway to the railway bridge, it will not be necessary for the Governor to autbori e the erection of a suspension bridge.