PROPOSED NEW BRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15245, 23 May 1923, Page 5

PROPOSED NEW BRIDGE.

THE STRUCTURE ESSENTIAL WAIKATO COUNTY’S SUPPORT. BOROUGH TO BE MET. The agitation for the erection of a traffic bridge over the Waikato River at the northern end of the town is taking very active form. At the meeting of the Waikato County Council? this morning, the views of the representative gathering of ratepayers which considered the question last week at a meeting at Fairfield were brought to notice, when Mr E. H. Hammond, on behalf of the ratepayers concerned, asked the Council to approach the Hamilton Borough Council and co-operate with the latter in the movement, and further, that immediate steps be taken to decide the position of the bridge. Mr Hammond, in elaborating on the unanimous decision reached by the large number of ratepayers in question, said that it was felt that the movement in the direction concerned was overdue, and the ratepayers offered their assistance in a fair allocation towards the cost of the bridge. What was essential at the moment was that expedition should be displayed towards making a start with the bridge. It was pointed out that there was £3OO available towards determining the site-for the bridge, and the Council could interest itself in having this' completed without in any way committing' itself. The chairman (Or. Bailey) remarked that the expenditure would be a big one, and an important point to be determined was as to whether the payment should be over a special rating area or from the County as a whole. Mr Hammond pointed to the practice of the past to make all bridges County matters. In regard to the present traffic bridge the County’s payment had been reduced from the original apportionment, as certain areas of the County had been merged in the Borough from time to time. The clerk said that the payment to the bridge now by the County was 20 per cent. Mr Hammond added that the new bridge was urgently required, and the desire was to place the matter in the Council’s hands for the latter to make the necessary movement on behalf of its ratepayers to bring the construction of the bridge about. Cr. Henry voiced the emphatic pro-, test of the Taupiri ratepayers against that riding being rated for the new bridge. They did not object to the bridge, but considered that those who received jthe direct benefit should be the ones 'to pay. Cr. J. Taylor said the Whangamarino datepayers wire also of that conclusion.

Mr Hammond remarked that such action would be diverting from precedent. Mr W. Chitty was of the opinion that if a special area was decided on It would not inflict a hardship on anybody. ; The chairman pointed out that the Council was saddled with four bridges between Cambridge and Ngaruawahia. Cr. T. H. Henderson contended that while the bridge would be required in the near future, delay for a further short period would not be a serious handicap. . Under those circumstances and the present condition of the roads it would not be advisable to saddle the ratepayers for a new bridge, which he thought should be deferred for two years. \ The clerk pointed out that Hamilton as the controlling body had the power to state whether the whole or only part of the County should be concerned in the payment. Fixing the Site. Cr. Newell advocated the settling of the site, as further delay would increase the expense. The bridge must come sooner or later, and money might be saved if a site were fixed now. To his view the locality most suited would be across from Boundary Road on the east side and strike just above the Whitiora Bowling green vicinity, which would give a straight route through to Frankton. He had an idea at one time that the railway might be shifted, and leave that route open as the new point for traffic, but after considering it he had now come to the conclusion that it would not suit, ’ as It tapped a too busy portion of the town, and in other respects did not meet the needs. Both for country and town benefit the bridge should be .further north. The matter was one which should be viewed from the ; Viewpoint of the welfare of the community as a whole. The present j Lraflic bridge was sufficiently congest:ed now. At anyrate it would take another five years for the new bridge to be completed, if the negotiations were entered\upon right away. "Cr. Taylor, ''in pointing out that Cr. Henderson and the speaker were new members, thought that the matter should be deferred until further data was available. Cr. Hinton supported the request of the ratepayers. The bridge was required, and the policy of contributing out of County revefiue as in the past should be followed. Cr. Clarkin said that the bridge was sure to come, and he favoured it. The decision of the Tamahere ratepayers in the matter would be conveyed to the Council later, when they had met, as they intended to do, to consider the proposal. Referring to the cost of the proposed structure, the chairman thought that £20,000 should build it. The Huntly bridge of 800 ft., witli eight pillars of ten piles each, had been built for £25,000 or £26,000. After some further, discussion the Council resolved to i ask the Hamilton Borough Council to set up a committee to meet the Council and investigate the qupstion of the site of a new traffic bridge at the northern end of the borough, which the County Council recognised would be required in llie near future. Cr. Henderson was strongly in favour of the proviso for a delay of two years being added, but it was pointed out that the term of the present Borough Council, which had gone in with a bridge as one of its planks, would then have expired. The chairman pointed out that no action undertaken by the County would affect the Commission which would most assuredly be set up to determine the matter.